Chuck McKenzie's Nasty Little Bits: Bite-sized morsels of the macabre

by Chuck McKenzie

Hello children. Welcome to Chuck McKenzie’s Nasty Little Bits—a collection of twenty-eight morsels of the macabre especially prepared to cause a range of reactions, from uneasy laughter to outright horror, and everything in between. We invite you to read this book at bedtime as an antidote to peaceful sleep. And remember—so long as you don’t let your foot dangle over the side of your mattress, the thing underneath your bed will never be able to grab it.

Genres: Horror

88 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2025

About the author

Chuck McKenzie was born in 1970 and is still not dead.

He is an award-nominated author of numerous science fiction and horror stories, and he hopes one day to be described by his neighbours as having seemed like such a nice man.

You can stalk him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chuck.mcken...

Reviews

[Iris O · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Daft Notions for the opportunity to post my honest review of this ARC.

This was fun, quick anthology with different horror themes, which I enjoyed.

We have lots of aliens, some ghosts, and some human monsters.

I rate this book 3.5 stars. The stories weren’t that scary but I did like “Ten Tales of Astounding Science Fiction” and “The Precious One”.

Without giving away spoilers, “The Precious One” is about a man with a child who is being chased by a group of hungry savages looking to eat the young and the weak.
This story had a great twist and I think it was a perfect closing for this anthology book.

Overall these bite sized stories were enjoyable but are not super scary or mind blowing.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me check under my bed and I am not even ashamed to admit it.

I had so much fun reading Chuck McKenzie’s Nasty Little Bits because it is creepy in that sneaky way that creeps up on you when you least expect it. Every story hits fast and leaves something weird rattling around in your head, and I loved how it bounced between dark humor and straight up unsettling moments. If you like horror that makes you laugh one second and squirm the next, this is absolutely worth your time, especially if you enjoy bedtime reading that definitely ruins sleep in the best way. 👁️👣🛏️

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chuck McKenzie’s Nasty Little Bits is a gleefully creepy collection of short horror stories that packs a lot of unease into small, sharp moments. Each piece feels like a quick flicker of something disturbing lurking just out of sight, perfect for readers who enjoy eerie ideas without committing to a long read. I really enjoyed how unpredictable the stories were, with some making me laugh nervously and others genuinely making me pause before turning the page. It was the kind of book that reminded me why short horror can be just as effective, if not more so, than longer tales.

[Nina Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC of this story thanks to NetGalley, Booksprout, and Daft Notions. I am leaving a review voluntarily.

Some of these stories had a lot of potential, and I found myself drawn into them. However, I didn't really find any to be scary, or spooky. Many were humerous though. Also, a lot of the stories were just too short to build up anything. They were like those two sentence horror stories, where some might be able to work well, but most just don't come across right.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book to read when you're looking for something different that is not 500 pages long. Chuck McKenzie writes an entertaining selection of stories that you'll read and immediately want to share with everyone. My reading group will love this book!

[Paige Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chuck McKenzie’s Nasty Little Bits is the kind of delightfully creepy book that makes you laugh nervously, read just one more story, and then regret turning off the light.