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Screams From The Bayou: A Horror Anthology
People come to the bayou to hide things. The bayou keeps them. We have dredged the murky waters to gather thirteen tales of creatures born from mud and ressurected these secrets concealed in the swamp. Because nothing given to the bayou is ever truly lost.
Featuring brand new stories Red Lagoe, R.J. Joseph, Blaine Daigle, William F. Gray, James Kaine, Timothy King, Edmund Stone, Eric Butler, Tony Evans, LM Kaplin, K.K. Monroe, Ashon Ruffins, Heather Ann Larson plus a foreword by Jonathan Janz.
Featuring brand new stories Red Lagoe, R.J. Joseph, Blaine Daigle, William F. Gray, James Kaine, Timothy King, Edmund Stone, Eric Butler, Tony Evans, LM Kaplin, K.K. Monroe, Ashon Ruffins, Heather Ann Larson plus a foreword by Jonathan Janz.
- GenresHorror
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2026
9 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 17, 2026
The Bayou setting is ripe for horror stories and this anthology hits it out of the park with thirteen tales of terror that features all types of horror. From supernatural, creature feature, voodoo, and cursed objects, these stories have everything you'd want from an anthology like this and it's definitely not one you'll want to miss.
There were a few favourites that stood out for me among the pack but these will be different for everybody.
Wampus by Timothy King is a creature feature where a bunch of teens are attending a party in the bayou when an urban legend comes true.
Gotta Fertilize the Demon by Tony Evans is a creepy tale of a couple and their visit to a diner for a stop on their journey. They hear rumors of a witch that turn out to be much more than that.
The Bayou Butcher by James Kaine is packed full of atmosphere. When a teen goes missing with her friend, their parents are understandably devastated. 6 months later she returns without the friend and is thought to have escaped the infamous Bayou Butcher, a serial killer that hadn't been active for 30 years. A search party is organised but suffice it to say, things don't go so well.
The Grunch by Eric Butler is another creature feature and shows just why people shouldn't seek out deadly cryptids.
The other stories are all high quality and well worth the read. Highly recommended for fans of anthologies and short stories.
There were a few favourites that stood out for me among the pack but these will be different for everybody.
Wampus by Timothy King is a creature feature where a bunch of teens are attending a party in the bayou when an urban legend comes true.
Gotta Fertilize the Demon by Tony Evans is a creepy tale of a couple and their visit to a diner for a stop on their journey. They hear rumors of a witch that turn out to be much more than that.
The Bayou Butcher by James Kaine is packed full of atmosphere. When a teen goes missing with her friend, their parents are understandably devastated. 6 months later she returns without the friend and is thought to have escaped the infamous Bayou Butcher, a serial killer that hadn't been active for 30 years. A search party is organised but suffice it to say, things don't go so well.
The Grunch by Eric Butler is another creature feature and shows just why people shouldn't seek out deadly cryptids.
The other stories are all high quality and well worth the read. Highly recommended for fans of anthologies and short stories.
March 19, 2026
Happy release day to Broken Brain Books for the release of Screams From The Bayou! The newest addition to the Screams anthologies has been one of my favourites so far. Some terrifying creatures, eerie legends, a serial killer, and even zombies, this anthology really has it all. In most anthologies I find some stories I don’t really like, but this is a solid collection, and I enjoyed each and every one. Standouts for me were The River Dog by Blaine Daigle, The Grunch by Eric Butler Author, The Swamp God by LM Kaplin, Wampus by Timothy King Author, and The Bayou Demands Its Toll by William F. Gray, but overall each story was fun and original. Definitely recommend checking this one out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Bayou Boogie – A little feel good story like “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if the Swamp King had won instead. Switch the story around a little!
Wampus – This was a fun, classic cryptid story. I enjoyed the violence and loved the feeling of dread woven throughout.
The Bayou Demands Its Toll - You will always pay the price of your actions. Even if that means a zombie in the middle of the bayou makes you pay to avenge his death.
Gotta Fertilize the Demon – This is one of those stories that makes you think twice before stopping in one of those small unknown towns. If they start talking about witches or other nonsense, then just head back to the interstate! Fucking sticking around, even if there is a bad storm!
Dead Water – Great swamp imagery and detail! The gore detail was spot on as well! I thought this was just going to be a gator type story without a supernatural element, but they took it a notch further! I love that the main character did not have a chance in hell to have a good ending 😊
The Bayou Butcher – This was a fun serial killer, voodoo gone bad type of fun story. I figured it was a possession type case but wasn’t expecting everything in that ending!
Screams From the Bayou – Always be careful of who you cross. Especially when it is a vengeful voodoo priestess!
The Neighbor – Sometimes the witch doctor is the one you should trust! He tried to warn them to stay away from the bayou, but the mother couldn’t listen and it seems they both paid the price!
The Swamp God – This was a fun little gator monster story. I wish it would have been a little longer, but it was short and sweet.
The Grunch – Sometimes you should listen to the warnings. Some things are not worth seeing. I love that there wasn’t a happy ending though. If you are stupid enough to go see a monster like that, you deserve what you get. Also, that poor goat.
Homegoing – This is a sweet little story of women getting their revenge on the man who wronged them with the bayou’s help.
The River Dog – This was an interesting spin. I was expecting more from the dog, but it turned out to be kind of a sweet, slightly scary story. I hope the dog comes back and actually comes through the window. Then he can do his damage 😊
The Heart of Gaia – Just a reminder that nothing belongs to you and the bayou does not forget. You can’t force yourself onto something. If it doesn’t belong to you, it doesn’t belong to you.
Wampus – This was a fun, classic cryptid story. I enjoyed the violence and loved the feeling of dread woven throughout.
The Bayou Demands Its Toll - You will always pay the price of your actions. Even if that means a zombie in the middle of the bayou makes you pay to avenge his death.
Gotta Fertilize the Demon – This is one of those stories that makes you think twice before stopping in one of those small unknown towns. If they start talking about witches or other nonsense, then just head back to the interstate! Fucking sticking around, even if there is a bad storm!
Dead Water – Great swamp imagery and detail! The gore detail was spot on as well! I thought this was just going to be a gator type story without a supernatural element, but they took it a notch further! I love that the main character did not have a chance in hell to have a good ending 😊
The Bayou Butcher – This was a fun serial killer, voodoo gone bad type of fun story. I figured it was a possession type case but wasn’t expecting everything in that ending!
Screams From the Bayou – Always be careful of who you cross. Especially when it is a vengeful voodoo priestess!
The Neighbor – Sometimes the witch doctor is the one you should trust! He tried to warn them to stay away from the bayou, but the mother couldn’t listen and it seems they both paid the price!
The Swamp God – This was a fun little gator monster story. I wish it would have been a little longer, but it was short and sweet.
The Grunch – Sometimes you should listen to the warnings. Some things are not worth seeing. I love that there wasn’t a happy ending though. If you are stupid enough to go see a monster like that, you deserve what you get. Also, that poor goat.
Homegoing – This is a sweet little story of women getting their revenge on the man who wronged them with the bayou’s help.
The River Dog – This was an interesting spin. I was expecting more from the dog, but it turned out to be kind of a sweet, slightly scary story. I hope the dog comes back and actually comes through the window. Then he can do his damage 😊
The Heart of Gaia – Just a reminder that nothing belongs to you and the bayou does not forget. You can’t force yourself onto something. If it doesn’t belong to you, it doesn’t belong to you.
March 18, 2026
Started and just couldn't have enough of this! A great anthology of thirteen Southern Gothic stories, all exceptionally on target, creepy, fun, and wildly inventive!
Opening with an exemplary introduction by Jonathan Janz, it's bursting at the seams with monstrous swamp creatures ("The Grunch" by Eric Butler, among many others), hungry gator armies ("Dead Water" by K.K. Monroe), voodoo priestesses, witch doctors, and rougarous ("Screams from the Bayou" by Heather Ann Larson) - there's even a blues contest (Edmund Stone's "Bayou Boogie"), a super-dark and intense, supernatural revenge tale ("Homegoing" by R.J. Joseph), a weird neighbor issuing ominous warnings about the bayou ("The Neighbor" by Ashon Ruffins), zombies ("The Bayou Demands Its Toll" by William F. Gray), and cryptids such as the Wampus Cat (Timothy King's "Wampus"); and is that really an albino alligator ("The Swamp God" by LM Kaplin)? Well, no.
The ones I enjoyed most were "Gotta Fertilize the Demon" by Tony Evans (worst blowj*b ever!); K.K. Monroe's "Dead Water" (wonderful sense of place, brutal and gory imagery, bleak ending); James Kaine's "The Bayou Butcher" (a brilliant serial killer story with a very unorthodox twist which I really liked); Erik Butler's "The Grunch" (worst ghost tour ever!); but my favorites by far were the two closing tales, "The River Dog" by Blaine Daigle (a mix of urban legend, ghost story, and creepy memoir) and Red Lagoe's "The Heart of Gaia" (high quality eco-horror)!
If you are looking for the coolest anthology of swamp horror, then "Screams From the Bayou" is the book to read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for "Screams from the Bayou: A Horror Anthology," a Southern Gothic horror collection of thirteen stories set in the Louisiana bayous published by Broken Brain Books.
This anthology was fantastic and, it seems, written around a premise of people going to the bayou to hide things (whatever those things may be...read the stories to see) which shouldn't see the light of day. There's a story in here for everyone. If you want monsters and creatures, supernatural, folk horror, or the occult, you'll find it here. Their is a lot of southern lore that is explored and, after reading this, I did have fun going down a Wikipedia black hole doing my own research.
I read this collection primarily for James Kaine and Timothy King (you guys are amazing as always, thank you!) but left with a list of new authors to try. I have heard of some of the authors in this collection and others are new to me but I can tell you one thing for sure: they are masters of their craft. The plot of a short story, I feel, should be structured and concise with one conflict that propels the story forward without too much extra fluff/filler. These authors nailed it.
I am not usually a short story guy, but this collection nailed it. No matter what type of horror you enjoy, there is something for everyone. I encourage everyone to sit down, read this book and, like me, find some new authors to enjoy.
This anthology was fantastic and, it seems, written around a premise of people going to the bayou to hide things (whatever those things may be...read the stories to see) which shouldn't see the light of day. There's a story in here for everyone. If you want monsters and creatures, supernatural, folk horror, or the occult, you'll find it here. Their is a lot of southern lore that is explored and, after reading this, I did have fun going down a Wikipedia black hole doing my own research.
I read this collection primarily for James Kaine and Timothy King (you guys are amazing as always, thank you!) but left with a list of new authors to try. I have heard of some of the authors in this collection and others are new to me but I can tell you one thing for sure: they are masters of their craft. The plot of a short story, I feel, should be structured and concise with one conflict that propels the story forward without too much extra fluff/filler. These authors nailed it.
I am not usually a short story guy, but this collection nailed it. No matter what type of horror you enjoy, there is something for everyone. I encourage everyone to sit down, read this book and, like me, find some new authors to enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Broken Brain Books for providing a review copy.
I have been to space, underwater, and now the bayou with the Screams From... series, and this is a worthy entry. As with any anthology, it's a mixed bag, but I enjoyed most of the stories. In my opinion, they saved the best for last. I had a lot of fun with Screams From the Bayou. 4 stars
Bayou Boogie by Edmund Stone ⭐⭐
Wampus by Timothy King ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Bayou Demands Its Toll by William F. Gray ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Gotta Fertilize the Demon by Tony Evans ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dead Water by K.K. Monroe ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Bayou Butcher by James Kaine ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Screams From the Bayou by Heather Ann Larson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Neighbor by Ashon Ruffins ⭐⭐⭐
The Swamp God by LM Kaplin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Grunch by Eric Butler ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Homegoing by R.J. Joseph ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The River Dog by Blaine Daigle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Heart of Gaia by Red Lagoe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have been to space, underwater, and now the bayou with the Screams From... series, and this is a worthy entry. As with any anthology, it's a mixed bag, but I enjoyed most of the stories. In my opinion, they saved the best for last. I had a lot of fun with Screams From the Bayou. 4 stars
Bayou Boogie by Edmund Stone ⭐⭐
Wampus by Timothy King ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Bayou Demands Its Toll by William F. Gray ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Gotta Fertilize the Demon by Tony Evans ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dead Water by K.K. Monroe ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Bayou Butcher by James Kaine ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Screams From the Bayou by Heather Ann Larson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Neighbor by Ashon Ruffins ⭐⭐⭐
The Swamp God by LM Kaplin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Grunch by Eric Butler ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Homegoing by R.J. Joseph ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The River Dog by Blaine Daigle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Heart of Gaia by Red Lagoe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow, I was so impressed with all the fantastic, dark, swampy tales in this collection.
Seriously, Janz was so on point in his forward; I was transported out of the frigid and snowy Canadian north to the muggy and buggy bayous and Everglades of the South. Total immersion into these frightening yet vibrant worlds full of life and death.
Each author put forward some astounding works here, atmospheric, creepy, spellbinding, etc.
One standout that will actually give me nightmares was “The River Dog” by Blaine Daigle… what the hell dude?! How did you even come up with this nightmare???
I will be having second thoughts about any kind of excursion into the wilds of Louisiana, Florida, or Mississippi if I ever visit.
Thank you to Broken Brain Books for a copy!
Seriously, Janz was so on point in his forward; I was transported out of the frigid and snowy Canadian north to the muggy and buggy bayous and Everglades of the South. Total immersion into these frightening yet vibrant worlds full of life and death.
Each author put forward some astounding works here, atmospheric, creepy, spellbinding, etc.
One standout that will actually give me nightmares was “The River Dog” by Blaine Daigle… what the hell dude?! How did you even come up with this nightmare???
I will be having second thoughts about any kind of excursion into the wilds of Louisiana, Florida, or Mississippi if I ever visit.
Thank you to Broken Brain Books for a copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
From a guitar playing swamp king, to Wampus Cats, to swamp creatures, to the Dix River Swamp Witch, to voodoo priestess, to alligator boys, to the stone of Gaia and so much more. This was an amazing anthology. I felt each story fit theme so well. I had a hard picking a favorite. So I picked my top two
The Heart of Gaia by Red Lagoe
Screams from the Bayou by Heather Larsen
The Bayou demands its toll by William F Gray
The Bayou is hungry.
Graves will rumble,
The earth will shake.
The water will boil
And bones will break.
The Heart of Gaia by Red Lagoe
Screams from the Bayou by Heather Larsen
The Bayou demands its toll by William F Gray
The Bayou is hungry.
Graves will rumble,
The earth will shake.
The water will boil
And bones will break.
March 23, 2026
Great collection of horrors in this anthology. Which is no surprise since Broken Brain Books never disappoints. It hits all the horror feels: dread, terror, regret, vengeance. And the monsters range from a swamp cat to witches to k!llers to some other gawd-awful creatures that will haunt my dreams for a while. There are slow burn stories, splatter stories, in-your-face stories, and a sneak up behind you story (those monster cats, I tell ya...). All the stories were good in their unique way. Wampus and The Grunch were my personal favorites!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The bayou has always seemed like a mystical, otherworldly place to me, full of unknowable terrors, and this collection of stories brings all that delicious darkness to light! Whatever legend you may have heard of, there's a story in here that brings it to life, and every author does an amazing job dragging me kicking and screaming into the murky waters of the swamp! Every book in the screams series is incredible, and this one proves worthy to join their ranks.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Screams From the Bayou is everything I love about a good Southern Gothic story. Dark atmosphere, eerie settings, and that dread that creeps under your skin.
This anthology features some of my favorite authors, and each one brings something unique to the table. From chilling creature horror to the unforgettable storylines!
This anthology features some of my favorite authors, and each one brings something unique to the table. From chilling creature horror to the unforgettable storylines!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This collection was the right amount of creepy and uneasy in all the right ways. The bayou's always have this odd aura around them from legends, myths and stories passed down from the ages. This collections plays on all of those and keep you in the mindset of don't go into the bayou. All of the stories work so well as individual stories and the collection as a whole. This is one you are not going to want pick up.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I just wrapped up another quality anthology from Broken Brain Books. it features all the elements one might expect when delving into swamp-themed horror—voodoo, witches, and wild animals, to name a few. It is also written by talented authors who clearly care about deeper themes such as the environment and mental health.
Review of advance copy received from Author
These stories are all creepy in the way that only the swamp and the bayou can be creepy. They are all dark journeys into a place where the characters may or may not come back. Full of monsters and witches and just plain evil these stories were a great treat!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This anthology of short stories was creepy to say the least. I love southern gorhic stories and this book did not disappoint. Quite a few very well known and amazing authors are included. The tales are creepy, chilling, and jaw dropping. There's no way to choose 1 favorite when I loved them all!
March 19, 2026
I LOVE an anthology from Broken Brain Books!! They always showcase some of the best in indie horror. This collection was so atmospheric and brought some heat into winter for me! Whether you’re looking to be terrified or have your heart strings pulled, there’s something for everyone here.
February 21, 2026
trust ... you want to read this book !
March 19, 2026
Swamp
A swamp is dark, beautiful, and mysterious anyway. These stories show you the things hiding in the dark. Hope you never encounter them.
A swamp is dark, beautiful, and mysterious anyway. These stories show you the things hiding in the dark. Hope you never encounter them.
March 19, 2026
Best Screams anthology yet!! Loved every story!
March 27, 2026
Stories about the Bayou. Witches, monsters, paranormal. You won't be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Screams from the Bayou - Heather Ann Larson (ed?)
Is this good? Yes.
It had better be, given the sheer weight of indie talent involved.
As such, the stories are well written & brilliantly inventive, but they're not easily accessible to someone not acquainted with the lore & setting involved.
My entire knowledge of the bayou comes from Live & Let Die, meaning that the setting is alien sci-fi to me but with the downside of never being explained because the authors assume knowledge.
Gradually you get into it & readjust your brain. My favourite story was unlocked when I started thinking along Lovecraft lines & setting it in Innsmouth in my head.
This is a great anthology that's definitely worth reading but for maximum enjoyment, give yourself a background in the setting.
Solidly recommended.
Screams from the Bayou is out on 19th March.
Is this good? Yes.
It had better be, given the sheer weight of indie talent involved.
As such, the stories are well written & brilliantly inventive, but they're not easily accessible to someone not acquainted with the lore & setting involved.
My entire knowledge of the bayou comes from Live & Let Die, meaning that the setting is alien sci-fi to me but with the downside of never being explained because the authors assume knowledge.
Gradually you get into it & readjust your brain. My favourite story was unlocked when I started thinking along Lovecraft lines & setting it in Innsmouth in my head.
This is a great anthology that's definitely worth reading but for maximum enjoyment, give yourself a background in the setting.
Solidly recommended.
Screams from the Bayou is out on 19th March.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews