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Call Us If You Get Possessed
From Chris Burton comes Call Us if You Get Possessed, a fast-paced, darkly comic horror-comedy novella, full of mysteries, devilish paranormal phenomena, conspiracy theories, and paranoia.
"The job was dangerous, physically, but even more so mentally. The office was a protected area, though it was impossible to cover every attack surface. Despite the safety measures, in rare instances, the phenomenon could spread from the caller, through the wires, radio waves, and cell towers, straight to the other side of the phone call."
During an unfortunate way home, Samantha becomes a witness to something she should have never seen. Now, she has no choice but to take a job at a call centre that aims to help people with paranormal problems.
After failing to handle a particularly unsettling call, Samantha discovers that whatever was haunting her caller has now latched onto her. She's in grave danger and all alone in this mess.
"The job was dangerous, physically, but even more so mentally. The office was a protected area, though it was impossible to cover every attack surface. Despite the safety measures, in rare instances, the phenomenon could spread from the caller, through the wires, radio waves, and cell towers, straight to the other side of the phone call."
During an unfortunate way home, Samantha becomes a witness to something she should have never seen. Now, she has no choice but to take a job at a call centre that aims to help people with paranormal problems.
After failing to handle a particularly unsettling call, Samantha discovers that whatever was haunting her caller has now latched onto her. She's in grave danger and all alone in this mess.
- GenresHorror
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
Chris Burton
19 books15 followersChris Burton is a Hungarian fiction author living in Budapest, specialising in short stories, novellas, and grammatical mistakes.
Drawn to dark tales from a young age, Chris began publishing his unsolicited creations in 2024, blending elements of horror, thriller, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, weird fiction and grotesque, sometimes with traces of dark humour.
In everyday life, Chris works in the field of [REDACTED], has chronic insomnia, and experiences intrusive thoughts more frequently than what is considered a healthy amount by healthcare professionals. In his spare time, he runs his own horror-inspired alternative rock music project but respectfully refuses to share any other specific details.
Drawn to dark tales from a young age, Chris began publishing his unsolicited creations in 2024, blending elements of horror, thriller, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, weird fiction and grotesque, sometimes with traces of dark humour.
In everyday life, Chris works in the field of [REDACTED], has chronic insomnia, and experiences intrusive thoughts more frequently than what is considered a healthy amount by healthcare professionals. In his spare time, he runs his own horror-inspired alternative rock music project but respectfully refuses to share any other specific details.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Such a fun ride! Think creepy demons meets wisecracking, done-with-this-shit paranormal investigators.
It balances funny and spooky really well, the dialogue and tone of voice are great, and the characters actually feel like the sort of people you'd want on your side when some supernatural craziness shows up at your door
Such a fun ride! Think creepy demons meets wisecracking, done-with-this-shit paranormal investigators.
It balances funny and spooky really well, the dialogue and tone of voice are great, and the characters actually feel like the sort of people you'd want on your side when some supernatural craziness shows up at your door
November 2, 2025
Thank you so much to Chris for giving me a copy to review!
3.74 but rounded up to 4!
the way this started was fantastic! loved it and was excited to see where it would go. The idea of a call centre for the Paranormal in general is a fantastic idea. Reading some of the things Sam would say about the calls she would get were funny and entertaining. some points I felt like I wanted just a little bit of more horror/ghostly happenings but you kind of get one heck of a scene towards the end thst surprised me tbh
3.74 but rounded up to 4!
the way this started was fantastic! loved it and was excited to see where it would go. The idea of a call centre for the Paranormal in general is a fantastic idea. Reading some of the things Sam would say about the calls she would get were funny and entertaining. some points I felt like I wanted just a little bit of more horror/ghostly happenings but you kind of get one heck of a scene towards the end thst surprised me tbh
January 18, 2026
ARC REVIEW
This book was a real weirdo, and I mean that in the best possible way. I was laughing out loud and muttering 'WTF' like a crazy person. I've never seen a customer service hotline like this before - it was a wild ride. Okay, there were some slow bits, but overall it was hilarious and good.
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review
May 20, 2026
Brilliant concept really well executed. Hooked me straight away and sent me down a rabbit hole. Even with the satirical vibe the horror and gore hit hard still, and the feeling questioning everything was so well done.
March 16, 2026
ITA
Un tizio, un po' particolare, si sveglia, inizia a scrivere, a scrivere, a scrivere, esce di casa, si dirige in un posto per consegnare tutto quello che ha scritto, poi fa per tornare indietro ma si rinsavisce non ricordando nulla e non sapendo dove si trova.
Un detective viene chiamato perché in un appartamento viene trovato il corpo di una donna senza vita, in pessime condizioni.
Poi abbiamo la nostra storia, raccontata dal punto di vista di Samantha. Tornando dal lavoro, prende una strada diversa dal solito, e si trova ad assistere a una strana scena: c'è qualcosa che svolazza, due persone e uno di questi due raccoglie quello che sta levitando.
Questo la porterà a lavorare nell'azienda dove, penso, lavorino i due tizi.
L’ azienda si chiama “underscore technologies” e il suo ruolo sarà fare la centralinista.
Le persone che chiamano lo fanno perché c'è qualcuno, c'è qualcosa in casa loro oppure c'è qualcuno o qualcosa che sta possedendo qualcuno di loro conoscenza.
La storia è stra interessante, molto adatta al momento storico in cui siamo. L’editore, nella pagina di introduzione del libro, spiega che, per qualche motivo, il file è stato corrotto e quindi si trovano parole redatte o sostituite da simboli. Ma loro hanno fretta di pubblicarlo e quindi si scusano per il disagio.
Uno dei capitoli finali fa riferimento a un reddit lunghissimo sulle teorie cospiratorie, e devo dire che questa parte mi è piaciuta di meno. Piazzata a caso? Oppure di nuovo, stiamo facendo riferimento a qualche file specifico dove tutto ha senso o forse no?
Comunque, secondo me la storia, senza questo capitolo sulle teorie cospiratorie è molto bella. L’ho trovata divertente, ha quel senso dell’umorismo che a me piace, intrecciata molto bene.
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente.
ENG
A somewhat peculiar guy wakes up, starts writing, writing, writing, leaves the house, goes to a place to deliver everything he has written, and then turns back but comes to his senses, remembering nothing and not knowing where he is.
A detective is called because the body of a woman is found in an apartment in very bad condition.
Then we have our story, told from Samantha's point of view. On her way home from work, she takes a different route than usual and witnesses a strange scene: there is something fluttering around, two people, and one of them picks up what is levitating.
This leads her to work at the company where, I think, the two guys work.
The company is called “Underscore Technologies," and her role will be to work as a switchboard operator.
People call because there is someone or something in their house, or there is someone or something possessing someone they know.
The story is extremely interesting, very appropriate for the historical moment we are in. The publisher explains, in the introduction to the book, that, for some reason, the file has been corrupted and, therefore, some words have been redacted or replaced by symbols. But they are in a hurry to print it, and therefore they apologize for the inconvenience.
One of the final chapters refers to a very long Reddit thread on conspiracy theories, and I must say that I liked this part the least. Was it placed there randomly? Or again, are we referring to some specific file where everything makes sense, or perhaps not?
Anyway, in my opinion, the story is very good without this chapter on conspiracy theories. I found it entertaining; it has the kind of humor I like, and it's very well woven together.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Un tizio, un po' particolare, si sveglia, inizia a scrivere, a scrivere, a scrivere, esce di casa, si dirige in un posto per consegnare tutto quello che ha scritto, poi fa per tornare indietro ma si rinsavisce non ricordando nulla e non sapendo dove si trova.
Un detective viene chiamato perché in un appartamento viene trovato il corpo di una donna senza vita, in pessime condizioni.
Poi abbiamo la nostra storia, raccontata dal punto di vista di Samantha. Tornando dal lavoro, prende una strada diversa dal solito, e si trova ad assistere a una strana scena: c'è qualcosa che svolazza, due persone e uno di questi due raccoglie quello che sta levitando.
Questo la porterà a lavorare nell'azienda dove, penso, lavorino i due tizi.
L’ azienda si chiama “underscore technologies” e il suo ruolo sarà fare la centralinista.
Le persone che chiamano lo fanno perché c'è qualcuno, c'è qualcosa in casa loro oppure c'è qualcuno o qualcosa che sta possedendo qualcuno di loro conoscenza.
La storia è stra interessante, molto adatta al momento storico in cui siamo. L’editore, nella pagina di introduzione del libro, spiega che, per qualche motivo, il file è stato corrotto e quindi si trovano parole redatte o sostituite da simboli. Ma loro hanno fretta di pubblicarlo e quindi si scusano per il disagio.
Uno dei capitoli finali fa riferimento a un reddit lunghissimo sulle teorie cospiratorie, e devo dire che questa parte mi è piaciuta di meno. Piazzata a caso? Oppure di nuovo, stiamo facendo riferimento a qualche file specifico dove tutto ha senso o forse no?
Comunque, secondo me la storia, senza questo capitolo sulle teorie cospiratorie è molto bella. L’ho trovata divertente, ha quel senso dell’umorismo che a me piace, intrecciata molto bene.
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente.
ENG
A somewhat peculiar guy wakes up, starts writing, writing, writing, leaves the house, goes to a place to deliver everything he has written, and then turns back but comes to his senses, remembering nothing and not knowing where he is.
A detective is called because the body of a woman is found in an apartment in very bad condition.
Then we have our story, told from Samantha's point of view. On her way home from work, she takes a different route than usual and witnesses a strange scene: there is something fluttering around, two people, and one of them picks up what is levitating.
This leads her to work at the company where, I think, the two guys work.
The company is called “Underscore Technologies," and her role will be to work as a switchboard operator.
People call because there is someone or something in their house, or there is someone or something possessing someone they know.
The story is extremely interesting, very appropriate for the historical moment we are in. The publisher explains, in the introduction to the book, that, for some reason, the file has been corrupted and, therefore, some words have been redacted or replaced by symbols. But they are in a hurry to print it, and therefore they apologize for the inconvenience.
One of the final chapters refers to a very long Reddit thread on conspiracy theories, and I must say that I liked this part the least. Was it placed there randomly? Or again, are we referring to some specific file where everything makes sense, or perhaps not?
Anyway, in my opinion, the story is very good without this chapter on conspiracy theories. I found it entertaining; it has the kind of humor I like, and it's very well woven together.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a wild concept and execution.
Love it. Very funny and a great palette cleanser for this die hard horror fan.
Well written, easy to read. The overall story line is not always straight forward but curves slightly but brings you right back without getting you lost.
The extra details just made the story something more.
The end is well I'm still trying to work out if I like it or it possibly annoyed me as I want more, I didn't want to end at all. It's one of those you either love it or hate its type of endings.
This is a mixed media style of books. In this case just text from different sources. It gives extra information thrown in on the sides, referencing back to previous pages to give more information to aspects touched within the story if you're interested.
Overall without giving any spoilers this book is paranormal themed, a little bit of horror thrown in, a little bit of death, some mysterious happenings wrapped up in its own mystery following a woman at a call centre.
I did receive this book as an ARC from the publisher and author and I am very thankful for the opportunity.
With saying that, I do not take on any book that is not something that I would not personally read, buy from a bookstore or read in a book club.
Life is too short to read books that are not your type of coffee.
Also hopefully no one sees that capybara again, anytime soon.
1 star for being funny like it claims.
1 star for being easy to read without being overly simplistic.
1 star for being unique in style and concept.
half a star for being easy to follow the main story.
half a star for not being predictable .
half a star for having likeable character
and last
half a star for going the extra for all the extra details added in.
can't wait to see what else Chris comes up with next.
Love it. Very funny and a great palette cleanser for this die hard horror fan.
Well written, easy to read. The overall story line is not always straight forward but curves slightly but brings you right back without getting you lost.
The extra details just made the story something more.
The end is well I'm still trying to work out if I like it or it possibly annoyed me as I want more, I didn't want to end at all. It's one of those you either love it or hate its type of endings.
This is a mixed media style of books. In this case just text from different sources. It gives extra information thrown in on the sides, referencing back to previous pages to give more information to aspects touched within the story if you're interested.
Overall without giving any spoilers this book is paranormal themed, a little bit of horror thrown in, a little bit of death, some mysterious happenings wrapped up in its own mystery following a woman at a call centre.
I did receive this book as an ARC from the publisher and author and I am very thankful for the opportunity.
With saying that, I do not take on any book that is not something that I would not personally read, buy from a bookstore or read in a book club.
Life is too short to read books that are not your type of coffee.
Also hopefully no one sees that capybara again, anytime soon.
1 star for being funny like it claims.
1 star for being easy to read without being overly simplistic.
1 star for being unique in style and concept.
half a star for being easy to follow the main story.
half a star for not being predictable .
half a star for having likeable character
and last
half a star for going the extra for all the extra details added in.
can't wait to see what else Chris comes up with next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (I would give 6 stars if I could)
A modern day X-Files if Mulder and Scully worked at a call center instead of the FBI.
This book has a unique take on what happens when you see something you definitely shouldn’t have. Would you have your mind erased or would you work at a call center to help others who also see weird shit happen?
Sam is our main girl who is hilarious, and (obviously) saw something she shouldn’t have in a dark alleyway, as one does on their way home from work. The Dollar Store Men in Black catch her before she can run away and give her two options: work for them, or… well they say she really doesn’t want to know the second option. Sam chooses the option that keeps her alive (but maybe dead inside)–working at a call center.
No two days are the same. Literally everything and anything paranormal, supernatural, or cryptid-related is fair game. Sam sometimes needs to perform an exorcism over the phone or call their special force team to deal with a capybara eating goats or is it the chupacabra?
Will is her only co-worker and mentor; together they shoulder the chaos so the job doesn’t completely break them. They can’t save everyone–and they’re not even sure their company wants them to–but they will try their damnedest to save everyone they can.
Unfortunately, as it comes with the job, sometimes you bring your work home with you and scary shit is guaranteed to happen but what can you do?
This book was fun, terrifying, and made me question what I know about reality. It made me think back to those conspiracy theories I used to entertain myself with at 3 am and rethink if they are a hoax–or real after all.
Read this book if you want a fun comedic horror that will have you locked in from beginning to end.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A modern day X-Files if Mulder and Scully worked at a call center instead of the FBI.
This book has a unique take on what happens when you see something you definitely shouldn’t have. Would you have your mind erased or would you work at a call center to help others who also see weird shit happen?
Sam is our main girl who is hilarious, and (obviously) saw something she shouldn’t have in a dark alleyway, as one does on their way home from work. The Dollar Store Men in Black catch her before she can run away and give her two options: work for them, or… well they say she really doesn’t want to know the second option. Sam chooses the option that keeps her alive (but maybe dead inside)–working at a call center.
No two days are the same. Literally everything and anything paranormal, supernatural, or cryptid-related is fair game. Sam sometimes needs to perform an exorcism over the phone or call their special force team to deal with a capybara eating goats or is it the chupacabra?
Will is her only co-worker and mentor; together they shoulder the chaos so the job doesn’t completely break them. They can’t save everyone–and they’re not even sure their company wants them to–but they will try their damnedest to save everyone they can.
Unfortunately, as it comes with the job, sometimes you bring your work home with you and scary shit is guaranteed to happen but what can you do?
This book was fun, terrifying, and made me question what I know about reality. It made me think back to those conspiracy theories I used to entertain myself with at 3 am and rethink if they are a hoax–or real after all.
Read this book if you want a fun comedic horror that will have you locked in from beginning to end.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
ARC Review: Call Us If You Get Possessed
This is customer service from hell, literally, and I mean that as a compliment.
Darkly funny, deeply unsettling, and far more emotionally exhausting than it first appears, Call Us If You Get Possessed takes the familiar misery of call-centre work and fuses it with demonic possession, cosmic horror, and the quiet dread of being responsible for someone else’s survival through a phone line.
From grisly crime scenes to frantic emergency calls, the book quickly establishes its tone: bleak, strange, and uncomfortably close to home. The horror doesn’t just come from entities and possessions. It comes from bureaucracy, protocols, and the knowledge that sometimes, even when you do everything right, people still die.
☎️ What worked best:
Atmosphere with teeth. The sterile office setting makes every supernatural intrusion feel sharper and more invasive.
The concept. A paranormal emergency call centre is a fantastic hook, and the story fully commits to it.
Samantha as a narrator. Cynical, anxious, and painfully relatable, she grounds the chaos emotionally.
Dark humor that lands. The comedy never weakens the horror. It highlights the absurd cruelty of it.
📞 What didn’t fully work for me:
The episodic structure slows momentum in places, and some calls are more memorable than others.
I wanted a bit more depth from a few secondary characters.
🕯️ Overall:
A strong pick for fans of modern, procedural paranormal horror threaded with gallows humor. This is unsettling not because the world ends, but because it doesn’t, and you still have to clock in tomorrow.
Would I reread it? Yes.
Would I recommend it to dark horror fans? Absolutely.
🩸 Hold music, corporate policy, and something breathing on the other end of the line.
This is customer service from hell, literally, and I mean that as a compliment.
Darkly funny, deeply unsettling, and far more emotionally exhausting than it first appears, Call Us If You Get Possessed takes the familiar misery of call-centre work and fuses it with demonic possession, cosmic horror, and the quiet dread of being responsible for someone else’s survival through a phone line.
From grisly crime scenes to frantic emergency calls, the book quickly establishes its tone: bleak, strange, and uncomfortably close to home. The horror doesn’t just come from entities and possessions. It comes from bureaucracy, protocols, and the knowledge that sometimes, even when you do everything right, people still die.
☎️ What worked best:
Atmosphere with teeth. The sterile office setting makes every supernatural intrusion feel sharper and more invasive.
The concept. A paranormal emergency call centre is a fantastic hook, and the story fully commits to it.
Samantha as a narrator. Cynical, anxious, and painfully relatable, she grounds the chaos emotionally.
Dark humor that lands. The comedy never weakens the horror. It highlights the absurd cruelty of it.
📞 What didn’t fully work for me:
The episodic structure slows momentum in places, and some calls are more memorable than others.
I wanted a bit more depth from a few secondary characters.
🕯️ Overall:
A strong pick for fans of modern, procedural paranormal horror threaded with gallows humor. This is unsettling not because the world ends, but because it doesn’t, and you still have to clock in tomorrow.
Would I reread it? Yes.
Would I recommend it to dark horror fans? Absolutely.
🩸 Hold music, corporate policy, and something breathing on the other end of the line.
Review of advance copy
As I write this review, I can only hope that Chris has resurfaced by now, as he's the author of my new favourite book. If he's still AWOL, I'll ring the call centre to find out where he's been hiding! 🙂
The cover is stunning – to me, it would not have looked out of place on the cover of Hitchcock's Dial M for murder.
The nonsensical foreword had me in stitches, and the epilogue is tucked away in a place you might not expect.
This weird but oh-so-great and original story is about, well, what is it actually about? I found the first two chapters a bit confusing, but as I read on, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. The way in which the Doppelgänger motif is used is utterly brilliant.
The writer draws on a wealth of sources, ranging from: Orwell, Hitchcock, Carroll, Roald Dahl and many more. Read on for slash horror, purple flying entities, talking pigs, non-existent floors, changing paintings, MIB and Ghostbusters, among many other things.
I thoroughly enjoyed the black humour and the 'issues' Miller has to deal with. She works at a call centre where she is expected to resolve issues of a 'paranormal' nature.
It's a truly amazing, hilarious and phenomenal story. It's a shame it's so short. The latest update from the publisher is that the author has disappeared into thin air. Maybe you should call the call centre for help?
In one word: amazing. Ten stars! I'm going to devour everything this author has written and will write, so hope he'll reappear shortly!!
The cover is stunning – to me, it would not have looked out of place on the cover of Hitchcock's Dial M for murder.
The nonsensical foreword had me in stitches, and the epilogue is tucked away in a place you might not expect.
This weird but oh-so-great and original story is about, well, what is it actually about? I found the first two chapters a bit confusing, but as I read on, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. The way in which the Doppelgänger motif is used is utterly brilliant.
The writer draws on a wealth of sources, ranging from: Orwell, Hitchcock, Carroll, Roald Dahl and many more. Read on for slash horror, purple flying entities, talking pigs, non-existent floors, changing paintings, MIB and Ghostbusters, among many other things.
I thoroughly enjoyed the black humour and the 'issues' Miller has to deal with. She works at a call centre where she is expected to resolve issues of a 'paranormal' nature.
It's a truly amazing, hilarious and phenomenal story. It's a shame it's so short. The latest update from the publisher is that the author has disappeared into thin air. Maybe you should call the call centre for help?
In one word: amazing. Ten stars! I'm going to devour everything this author has written and will write, so hope he'll reappear shortly!!
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Call Us If You Get Possessed starts off strong with an inventive premise and a darkly comic tone that immediately pulls you in. The idea of a paranormal call center—where hauntings can travel through phone lines, radio waves, and cell towers—is genuinely clever and unsettling, and the early portion of the book fully leans into that potential.
For the first half to roughly 75% of the story, I was thoroughly entertained. The pacing is quick, the paranoia builds effectively, and the creepy calls keep the tension high. Samantha’s situation escalates in a way that feels both claustrophobic and ominous, making it easy to stay invested.
However, once the story reaches the final stretch, the momentum starts to falter. I found my attention slipping as the narrative shifted, and the payoff didn’t feel as tight or engaging as the setup. I think if the last 75% had been presented differently—either in structure, pacing, or execution—the story would have flowed better overall and maintained the intensity that made the beginning so compelling.
While the concept is strong and the early execution is entertaining, the latter portion didn’t fully deliver on what the story initially promised. Still, this is a creative horror-comedy with an original hook, and fans of offbeat paranormal fiction may find a lot to enjoy—especially in its earlier chapters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Call Us If You Get Possessed starts off strong with an inventive premise and a darkly comic tone that immediately pulls you in. The idea of a paranormal call center—where hauntings can travel through phone lines, radio waves, and cell towers—is genuinely clever and unsettling, and the early portion of the book fully leans into that potential.
For the first half to roughly 75% of the story, I was thoroughly entertained. The pacing is quick, the paranoia builds effectively, and the creepy calls keep the tension high. Samantha’s situation escalates in a way that feels both claustrophobic and ominous, making it easy to stay invested.
However, once the story reaches the final stretch, the momentum starts to falter. I found my attention slipping as the narrative shifted, and the payoff didn’t feel as tight or engaging as the setup. I think if the last 75% had been presented differently—either in structure, pacing, or execution—the story would have flowed better overall and maintained the intensity that made the beginning so compelling.
While the concept is strong and the early execution is entertaining, the latter portion didn’t fully deliver on what the story initially promised. Still, this is a creative horror-comedy with an original hook, and fans of offbeat paranormal fiction may find a lot to enjoy—especially in its earlier chapters.
March 9, 2026
What if someone (or something) latched onto you through a phone call?
Call Us If You Get Possessed by Chris Burton is a darkly comic paranormal horror novella. Helping people with paranormal problems is part of Samantha's job, she is a call center employee (for a company that doesn't exist) for the paranormal after all, but not like this. She's not supposed to be the one with the problem, and that's exactly what's happened. Will she be able to get out of this mess before it takes over her life?
It is refreshing to have a book where it's expected that something will be paranormal, and there's no worry of the person being called crazy because of something otherworldly. Plus, the whole company being this mysterious figure where even the book didn't say the name, was an interesting addition.
The main character, and the back and forth between Will and her, was humorous which is surprising since she was thrown into this paranormal world so quickly.
It's not anything revolutionary, and there are some grammatical errors in the book, but it is an entertaining book that does deserve to get its flowers. It does get crazy, so be prepared.
I'd give this book a 4.5 out of 5 murderous kitchen furniture. It has an interesting story, conspiracy theories, and even bonus content at the end where you get to read the reddit thread deleted in the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Call Us If You Get Possessed by Chris Burton is a darkly comic paranormal horror novella. Helping people with paranormal problems is part of Samantha's job, she is a call center employee (for a company that doesn't exist) for the paranormal after all, but not like this. She's not supposed to be the one with the problem, and that's exactly what's happened. Will she be able to get out of this mess before it takes over her life?
It is refreshing to have a book where it's expected that something will be paranormal, and there's no worry of the person being called crazy because of something otherworldly. Plus, the whole company being this mysterious figure where even the book didn't say the name, was an interesting addition.
The main character, and the back and forth between Will and her, was humorous which is surprising since she was thrown into this paranormal world so quickly.
It's not anything revolutionary, and there are some grammatical errors in the book, but it is an entertaining book that does deserve to get its flowers. It does get crazy, so be prepared.
I'd give this book a 4.5 out of 5 murderous kitchen furniture. It has an interesting story, conspiracy theories, and even bonus content at the end where you get to read the reddit thread deleted in the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Let me start by saying: I did not expect this under-200-page book to have me glued to my seat and willingly sacrificing sleep just to find out what the hell was going on. But here we are. 😅
The story kicks off strong and creepy, our opening scene has a woman hiding in her closet, convinced something is terribly wrong with her son. He’s standing on the other side of the door and calmly says, “Samantha, I’ll see you soon.”
WHEW. Immediate chills. That line alone set the tone and hooked me.
This book is a perfect blend of comedy, horror, and suspense, sprinkled with quirky moments that catch you off guard in the best way. One minute I was laughing, the next I was side-eyeing the dark, wondering if I should’ve kept a light on. The humor never undercuts the tension, it actually makes the unsettling moments hit harder.
What really surprised me was how invested I became so quickly. The pacing is tight, the concept is clever, and despite its length, the story feels complete and satisfying. By the end, I wasn’t overthinking I was just enjoying the ride.
If you’re looking for something funny, creepy, fast-paced, and genuinely entertaining, this one is absolutely worth your time. Just… maybe don’t read it right before bed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story kicks off strong and creepy, our opening scene has a woman hiding in her closet, convinced something is terribly wrong with her son. He’s standing on the other side of the door and calmly says, “Samantha, I’ll see you soon.”
WHEW. Immediate chills. That line alone set the tone and hooked me.
This book is a perfect blend of comedy, horror, and suspense, sprinkled with quirky moments that catch you off guard in the best way. One minute I was laughing, the next I was side-eyeing the dark, wondering if I should’ve kept a light on. The humor never undercuts the tension, it actually makes the unsettling moments hit harder.
What really surprised me was how invested I became so quickly. The pacing is tight, the concept is clever, and despite its length, the story feels complete and satisfying. By the end, I wasn’t overthinking I was just enjoying the ride.
If you’re looking for something funny, creepy, fast-paced, and genuinely entertaining, this one is absolutely worth your time. Just… maybe don’t read it right before bed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
2.75 Stars
Call Us If You Get Possessed is a weird mix of horror thriller and workplace comedy, and I’m not sure if it actually worked that well. The story follows Sam, who after witnessing the supernatural is now forced to work at a call center for the paranormally impacted. However, her work starts to follow her home.
The concept for this story is actually pretty neat, and the plot is actually not bad. (For instance, the Sam and Nauruah fake out was neat). However, the execution of this story leaves a lot to be desired.. The story is not told linearally, which can make it a bit confusing. (I was able to make sense of everything by the end anyways, so it’s not a deal breaker. Still somewhat unpleasant). This combined with the somewhat novice writing makes for a somewhat disinteresting read.
Additionally, I just never found this book funny at any point, which is problem in a book being labeled as a dark comedy. Like I could see the jokes, but they were not very good. I’ve seen other reviews that praise the humor though so perhaps it is just a taste issue.
Overall, this book adequately feels like the representation of a call center from Hell, but at least it was fairly short.
Thanks to BookSirens and Chris Burton for an advanced copy.
Call Us If You Get Possessed is a weird mix of horror thriller and workplace comedy, and I’m not sure if it actually worked that well. The story follows Sam, who after witnessing the supernatural is now forced to work at a call center for the paranormally impacted. However, her work starts to follow her home.
The concept for this story is actually pretty neat, and the plot is actually not bad. (For instance, the Sam and Nauruah fake out was neat). However, the execution of this story leaves a lot to be desired.. The story is not told linearally, which can make it a bit confusing. (I was able to make sense of everything by the end anyways, so it’s not a deal breaker. Still somewhat unpleasant). This combined with the somewhat novice writing makes for a somewhat disinteresting read.
Additionally, I just never found this book funny at any point, which is problem in a book being labeled as a dark comedy. Like I could see the jokes, but they were not very good. I’ve seen other reviews that praise the humor though so perhaps it is just a taste issue.
Overall, this book adequately feels like the representation of a call center from Hell, but at least it was fairly short.
Thanks to BookSirens and Chris Burton for an advanced copy.
February 11, 2026
I am giving this book a 4.5⭐️. It was absolutely phenomenal. The writing felt like I was reading an actual call that was happening as I read the book, from beginning to end, I was hooked, turning the page wondering what situation will happen next. By the end of this book I was wanting more, more of Chris Burtons writing and more of this story itself, I feel like there was one situation within this story where I wish we got more information about what happened to the character but other than that I feel like this story was told very well and even felt like if it was made into a movie or even a tv show I would love to watch it, and I don’t say that often. Thank you to booksirens, the publisher, and the author for this amazing arc copy, you can read this book yourselves on the 24th of February at least in the area of the US that I am in, I seriously cannot recommend this book enough, for a short novella it was amazing. Thank you again!
*Since this is an arc I have not put spoilers, as well as any info about the book itself, (I personally believe going into this book practically blind is the best way to get the information of this book!)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*Since this is an arc I have not put spoilers, as well as any info about the book itself, (I personally believe going into this book practically blind is the best way to get the information of this book!)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2026
I picked this up thinking it’d be a quick little read I could finish and forget. Nope. This tiny book fully hijacked my night and had me turning pages way past the time I should’ve been asleep.
What I didn’t expect was how funny it could be at times. Not laugh-out-loud comedy, but those little weird, awkward moments that make you smirk before the story yanks you right back into the tension. That mix actually made the creepy parts feel worse in a good way. You never really get comfortable.
The story moves quick, but it never feels rushed. There’s no extra fluff, just a steady unraveling of something strange that keeps you curious enough to keep going.
By the end, I loved that I didn’t have to dissect every detail to get it. i felt like i enjoyed the weird and unsettling feeling. It’s one of those reads that sticks with you a little after you finish, especially when the house gets quiet.
Maybe don’t read it when you’re home alone at night.
I appreciated how this book felt complete even thought its short.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What I didn’t expect was how funny it could be at times. Not laugh-out-loud comedy, but those little weird, awkward moments that make you smirk before the story yanks you right back into the tension. That mix actually made the creepy parts feel worse in a good way. You never really get comfortable.
The story moves quick, but it never feels rushed. There’s no extra fluff, just a steady unraveling of something strange that keeps you curious enough to keep going.
By the end, I loved that I didn’t have to dissect every detail to get it. i felt like i enjoyed the weird and unsettling feeling. It’s one of those reads that sticks with you a little after you finish, especially when the house gets quiet.
Maybe don’t read it when you’re home alone at night.
I appreciated how this book felt complete even thought its short.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an absolute blast of comedic horror.
Call Us If You Get Possessed grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the very last absurd, paranoid beat. The quirkiness, the dark humor, the creeping sense of something is very wrong but we’re all pretending it’s fine; it all works beautifully.
Despite being short and unapologetically ridiculous, the story somehow manages to capture the soul of modern society: people drifting through life, deeply confused about what they’re doing, yet stubbornly carrying on anyway. Horror, but make it existential. And funny. And a little too relatable.
I honestly wish there were more. A lot more. I would have happily read another 300 pages in this world. The style, the humor, the pacing, and the vivid characters all hit exactly my taste. Every element feels intentional, sharp, and delightfully unhinged.
Thank you for this wildly fun ride.
A very solid 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Call Us If You Get Possessed grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the very last absurd, paranoid beat. The quirkiness, the dark humor, the creeping sense of something is very wrong but we’re all pretending it’s fine; it all works beautifully.
Despite being short and unapologetically ridiculous, the story somehow manages to capture the soul of modern society: people drifting through life, deeply confused about what they’re doing, yet stubbornly carrying on anyway. Horror, but make it existential. And funny. And a little too relatable.
I honestly wish there were more. A lot more. I would have happily read another 300 pages in this world. The style, the humor, the pacing, and the vivid characters all hit exactly my taste. Every element feels intentional, sharp, and delightfully unhinged.
Thank you for this wildly fun ride.
A very solid 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Call Us If You Get Possessed is the short story of Sam Miller and the daily events of her extremely odd job. It’s no spoiler to say that she mans a help desk for possessed people, but this tale gives us the “routine” tasks with humorous detail. I like Sam as a MC, the premise is perfect for a novella, but there could have been a better flow from event to event. For example, a pretty major turn occurs in the story and it felt as though I was just dropped out of it. Once it was done, that was it, moving on. It felt unfinished, so I appreciated the couple of epistolary-type chapters at the end which somewhat tied things together. Also, there are a few funny nods to other horror books and movies which added to the “could this be a real gig?” vibe. Overall, this was a fun read that could be a prologue to a fuller novel!
Thanks to BookSirens for this ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thanks to BookSirens for this ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I got to read this as an ARC
What can I say about this novella? It was a short and fun read. I was not sure what I could expect from it going in. The formatting got to me, especially at the end. I wanted to know more about what happened to Sam and Will. It seemed like a good story was set up, then it went completely off the rails.
It is a novella about paranormal horror, complete with possession and the supernatural. The novella keeps to these themes til the very end. Though for me, I wanted more of the characters that you get to know along the story. There are more questions raised by the end than questions answered. I think that might be the point, but I do want more from this.
Will there be more? Is this just a novella to bring more bits into further works? Is this just it with these characters?
That is the only reason I am not ranking this five stars.
The story was great, and I did enjoy it vastly. Just the structure at the end was a bit too different for me.
What can I say about this novella? It was a short and fun read. I was not sure what I could expect from it going in. The formatting got to me, especially at the end. I wanted to know more about what happened to Sam and Will. It seemed like a good story was set up, then it went completely off the rails.
It is a novella about paranormal horror, complete with possession and the supernatural. The novella keeps to these themes til the very end. Though for me, I wanted more of the characters that you get to know along the story. There are more questions raised by the end than questions answered. I think that might be the point, but I do want more from this.
Will there be more? Is this just a novella to bring more bits into further works? Is this just it with these characters?
That is the only reason I am not ranking this five stars.
The story was great, and I did enjoy it vastly. Just the structure at the end was a bit too different for me.
January 22, 2026
Funny, quirky, confusing, frustrating, and at times annoying.
Those are my thoughts about this novella.
It is supposed to be horror, but I just didn't see it. What I did think was that it was more of a government cover-up, conspiracy theory-themed story, which was cool with me.
I liked Will and Samantha and felt that they worked well in their roles. I would have loved to read more about their workplace and learned more about the results of their job, but after reading the letters/diary at the end of the novella, I can see why we didn't learn more. I really would have loved to hear what became of Sam and Will, and I'm sure the author hinted at it, but perhaps I'm just tp lierally minded to see it.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, which is self-published, the author, and Book Sirens.
Those are my thoughts about this novella.
It is supposed to be horror, but I just didn't see it. What I did think was that it was more of a government cover-up, conspiracy theory-themed story, which was cool with me.
I liked Will and Samantha and felt that they worked well in their roles. I would have loved to read more about their workplace and learned more about the results of their job, but after reading the letters/diary at the end of the novella, I can see why we didn't learn more. I really would have loved to hear what became of Sam and Will, and I'm sure the author hinted at it, but perhaps I'm just tp lierally minded to see it.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, which is self-published, the author, and Book Sirens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fun and quirky novella this was. If you discovered there were other beings and entities living alongside us what would you do? Would you take a job at a call center to help fellow humans who struggle with these beings? That is exactly what Samantha does. Through her job at the call center she is pulled into this other world that exists.
What attracted me to the story was the fact that I am a manager of a call center. I found that aspect so original! I loved Burton’s dead pan humor. What I also enjoyed was the way in which he sometimes deliberately puts you on the wrong path. Burton reminded me of Fredrik Backman in that way.
I did however struggle with the ending. I do not understand Burton’s intention with it. It confused me more than that it enlightened me. The ending of the author bio did give me a laugh. Chris if you need help you can always call my call center! 🤣
Thank you to Book Sirens for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.
What attracted me to the story was the fact that I am a manager of a call center. I found that aspect so original! I loved Burton’s dead pan humor. What I also enjoyed was the way in which he sometimes deliberately puts you on the wrong path. Burton reminded me of Fredrik Backman in that way.
I did however struggle with the ending. I do not understand Burton’s intention with it. It confused me more than that it enlightened me. The ending of the author bio did give me a laugh. Chris if you need help you can always call my call center! 🤣
Thank you to Book Sirens for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy
Voluntary review of an advanced copy from BookSirens
Well this was a wild ride from start to finish, with a fresh take on possession. The story revolves around Sam and her employment at a call center, the focus of is responding to paranormal entities or activity. Rather than a linear story, the chapters are broken up into moments in time that seperate past, present and future. These pieces eventually form the whole picture, with an epilogue that adds in more information about certain items from the main plot.
Point Blank: I enjoyed it. It's the kind of novella that keeps things interesting, and I appreciated the lore drop in regards to demonology. Basing it around a call center was also a good idea, and it was fun to see that atmosphere or even the conversations having representation in horror media.
Thank you, as always, to the author for this creation. Amazing job all around.
Well this was a wild ride from start to finish, with a fresh take on possession. The story revolves around Sam and her employment at a call center, the focus of is responding to paranormal entities or activity. Rather than a linear story, the chapters are broken up into moments in time that seperate past, present and future. These pieces eventually form the whole picture, with an epilogue that adds in more information about certain items from the main plot.
Point Blank: I enjoyed it. It's the kind of novella that keeps things interesting, and I appreciated the lore drop in regards to demonology. Basing it around a call center was also a good idea, and it was fun to see that atmosphere or even the conversations having representation in horror media.
Thank you, as always, to the author for this creation. Amazing job all around.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I knew I was going to enjoy Call Us If You Get Possessed from the title alone, and it absolutely delivered. This is an original, witty and unsettling novella that blends conspiracies, creeping paranoia and some good old-fashioned slasher gore.
The call centre setting is such a clever choice, and I absolutely loved Sam and Will. The call centre version of Scully and Mulder! I also really enjoyed the added perspectives and documentation woven throughout the story, which deepened the paranoia and made it feel immersive without slowing the pace.
I would happily read a full-length novel set in this world!
Read
February 22, 2026This novella delivers a wonderfully strange blend of paranormal horror and sharp, dark humor that works far better than I expected. The story moves quickly, but it never feels rushed. Instead it builds a steady sense of unease while letting the absurdity of the situation shine through. I enjoyed how the characters react to the supernatural with a mix of fear, sarcasm and resignation, which gives the whole thing a very human edge. The horror has bite, the jokes land, and the pacing keeps everything tight and engaging. It is the kind of offbeat, creepy read that sticks with you because it refuses to behave like anything predictable.
Highly recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
Review of advance copy
This is a good horror story with dark humour elements. It was a little confusing to me. We follow Samantha Miller a call centre worker who after witnessing a strange incident is offered a job answering calls of a supernatural nature and when I said offered it really more of a choice with the other option being implied to be worse. Sam soon learns the ropes at company making the acquaintance of Will, the job is strange and has some interesting requirements but soon a incident happens that puts Sam in danger. This was interesting but a also a bit WTF. I enjoyed it but rating it a 4.75 as due to the ending and feeling a bit confused but overall liked it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
While there were parts that were funny. This book is rather dark and macabre and it fell flat at the end.
I did enjoy the dynamic between Will and our FMC Sam.
I enjoyed the pacing of the book. Very fast and kept you engaged throughout. The ending while not a cliffhanger left me with more questions than when I started.
There are a few interesting twists I most definitely did not expect, which left me pleasantly surprised and on the tips of my toes.
Wouldn't it be interesting if there really was a paranormal hotline and how would one answer the call? I cannot say more without giving anything away. If you like your stories microwave with a touch of humor this is for you.
I happily and eagerly received this as an ARC and happily leave my personal opinion.
I did enjoy the dynamic between Will and our FMC Sam.
I enjoyed the pacing of the book. Very fast and kept you engaged throughout. The ending while not a cliffhanger left me with more questions than when I started.
There are a few interesting twists I most definitely did not expect, which left me pleasantly surprised and on the tips of my toes.
Wouldn't it be interesting if there really was a paranormal hotline and how would one answer the call? I cannot say more without giving anything away. If you like your stories microwave with a touch of humor this is for you.
I happily and eagerly received this as an ARC and happily leave my personal opinion.
December 23, 2025
“I don’t want to make you worried, but the life you have known is soon going to come to an end. But that might be a good thing. It’s up to you, really.”
Samantha Miller, 28, sees something on her walk home from work one night.
To reward her silence, she is offered a position with The Organization.
Manning the call center; dealing with inquiries of a paranormal nature.
It’s all so mysterious. 👀
Will Spencer, Sam’s coworker.
The vivid nightmares. A crazy and stressful job.
Poltergeists. Presences.
The notebook.
The package: the painting. 🖼️
Mimicking Demons.
Danger: Naaraah. 🪓
The house on Cherry Grove. 🏠
Surrealistic and darkly humorous. Nice ending.
Always a class act; a lovely thank-you to the readers. 👏🏻
It took time to pull myself together, but when I did, anger began to grow within me. I had to find her before she found me.
Samantha Miller, 28, sees something on her walk home from work one night.
To reward her silence, she is offered a position with The Organization.
Manning the call center; dealing with inquiries of a paranormal nature.
It’s all so mysterious. 👀
Will Spencer, Sam’s coworker.
The vivid nightmares. A crazy and stressful job.
Poltergeists. Presences.
The notebook.
The package: the painting. 🖼️
Mimicking Demons.
Danger: Naaraah. 🪓
The house on Cherry Grove. 🏠
Surrealistic and darkly humorous. Nice ending.
Always a class act; a lovely thank-you to the readers. 👏🏻
It took time to pull myself together, but when I did, anger began to grow within me. I had to find her before she found me.
Review of advance copy
Overall I enjoyed Call Us If You Get Possessed, the characters gave me a chuckle and I liked that the tone of the book was peculiar and not similar to anything that I recall having read before.
I thought the epilogue was really cool in that I've not seen that done before and for me, it made the book stand out. If you enjoyed The Jolly Postman as a kid, you'll enjoy that part too 😅
I think had I perhaps been in a different headspace, I'd have really loved this.
I will definitely read some of Chris' other books when I'm in a more receptive head space as this has definitely put him on my radar.
E-ARC received from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the epilogue was really cool in that I've not seen that done before and for me, it made the book stand out. If you enjoyed The Jolly Postman as a kid, you'll enjoy that part too 😅
I think had I perhaps been in a different headspace, I'd have really loved this.
I will definitely read some of Chris' other books when I'm in a more receptive head space as this has definitely put him on my radar.
E-ARC received from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
EARC REVIEW! Thank you to the author and booksprout for the arc!
This is a book about being a call centre employee that deals with paranormal entities and possessions.
I thought this balanced humor and horror really well. It was a really fun time and a very quick read. I liked following Samantha as a character, she felt like a real person in that situation!
I think maybe just a bit more spooks and ghosts but I thought it was great regardless.
This reminded me of the video game, Home Safety Hotline so I recommend this book for anyone who liked that.
This is a book about being a call centre employee that deals with paranormal entities and possessions.
I thought this balanced humor and horror really well. It was a really fun time and a very quick read. I liked following Samantha as a character, she felt like a real person in that situation!
I think maybe just a bit more spooks and ghosts but I thought it was great regardless.
This reminded me of the video game, Home Safety Hotline so I recommend this book for anyone who liked that.
Review of advance copy
Thanks to Book Sirens for the eARC
The story was ok, its based around a "call centre" who deal with people experiencing paranormal activity and possession. I feel there could have been more to the characters and the job they were doing. It gets a bit lost towards the end and i felt confused with how it ended. I also didnt get why there was paragraphs of conspiracy theories, I felt it didnt fit in well with the story, either that or I just didnt get the purpose.
The story was ok, its based around a "call centre" who deal with people experiencing paranormal activity and possession. I feel there could have been more to the characters and the job they were doing. It gets a bit lost towards the end and i felt confused with how it ended. I also didnt get why there was paragraphs of conspiracy theories, I felt it didnt fit in well with the story, either that or I just didnt get the purpose.
Review of advance copy
Oooof, note to self: do NOT be in the wrong place at the wrong time 😬😆
Uniquely structured, humorously and hauntingly horrific— this novella definitely had my morbid curiosity going... and even frightened me towards the end 🫣
I am a big fan of non-linear, found footage style reads that seep into your skin long after you've read them and this was exactly that experience...
I'm very grateful to BookSirens for this advanced copy to read and review with my honest opinions! 🙏🏻
Uniquely structured, humorously and hauntingly horrific— this novella definitely had my morbid curiosity going... and even frightened me towards the end 🫣
I am a big fan of non-linear, found footage style reads that seep into your skin long after you've read them and this was exactly that experience...
I'm very grateful to BookSirens for this advanced copy to read and review with my honest opinions! 🙏🏻
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