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Traps and Specters: Stories
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26A new collection of short stories and novellas from Bram Stoker Award finalist Philip Fracassi, featuring an introduction by NYT bestselling author Matt Dinniman.
"Traps and Specters is an impressively literate and wildly imaginative collection featuring a truly remarkable range of work... Fracassi’s a hell of a writer.” —Bentley Little
From the mind of Stoker and British Fantasy award-nominated author Philip Fracassi comes fourteen stories of the macabre that will frighten, disturb, and ensnare readers in a dark web of twisted tales.
In these pages you’ll find talking corpses and deadly tombs, misguided exorcists, technology gone wrong, blood-soaked prison riots, and enough vengeful spirits and haunted objects to fill a grave.
With an introduction by bestselling author Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl), Traps and Specters will chill, thrill, entertain, and leave you gasping in shock and terror at the horrors waiting within.
"Traps and Specters is an impressively literate and wildly imaginative collection featuring a truly remarkable range of work... Fracassi’s a hell of a writer.” —Bentley Little
From the mind of Stoker and British Fantasy award-nominated author Philip Fracassi comes fourteen stories of the macabre that will frighten, disturb, and ensnare readers in a dark web of twisted tales.
In these pages you’ll find talking corpses and deadly tombs, misguided exorcists, technology gone wrong, blood-soaked prison riots, and enough vengeful spirits and haunted objects to fill a grave.
With an introduction by bestselling author Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl), Traps and Specters will chill, thrill, entertain, and leave you gasping in shock and terror at the horrors waiting within.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Philip Fracassi
75 books2,104 followersPHILIP FRACASSI is the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award-nominated author of the novels A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, Boys in the Valley, The Third Rule of Time Travel, and The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre. He is also the author of the story collections Behold the Void, Beneath a Pale Sky, and No One is Safe!
His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.
Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.
His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.
Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 9, 2026
Few authors working in modern horror demonstrate the range and consistency that Fracassi brings to the page. Traps and Specters is a strong showcase of exactly why he is such a respected voice in the horror community. Spanning fourteen stories, this collection moves effortlessly between the supernatural, psychological dread, disastrous technology, possession, and brutality, yet every tale screams "Fracassi". What impressed me most was the versatility. One story may plunge the reader into an encounter with the impossible, while the next explores the horrors of the human body or mind. Haunted objects, restless dead and violent eruptions of chaos are all waiting for you, and the real connective tissue is Fracassi's talent for creating deep unease. Even when a story leans into gore or absurdity, there is an undercurrent of sadness and dread. As with short story collections, certain stories will resonate differently with each reader, but the quality remains remarkable throughout. Fracassi rises to the demands of short-form horror, always. He wastes little time establishing atmosphere, quickly immersing the reader in unsettling situations while still giving us memorable characters and emotional weight. Several stories build toward endings that simultaneously feel surprising and inevitable. The collection highlights Fracassi's skill at balancing entertainment with genuine discomfort. More than once, I yelled. For longtime horror fans and newcomers alike, Traps and Specters is an engaging and horrific collection that demonstrates why Philip continues to be one of the genres most compelling storytellers. Thank you to Shortwave Publishing for the ARC! This title is live for preorder over on Shortwaves website. Keep an eye out for it September 22nd, 2026. I will have full coverage of this title on Cemetery Dance soon!
June 10, 2026
I love this author and I was so excited to get an ARC of his short story collection. These short stories were WILD. Some of them actually did creep me out when I was reading late night. I thought it was a great collection that featured many different kinds of horror. This author definitely has a handle on horror and I’m here for it. Don’t miss this! Coming September 2026.
June 6, 2026
Philip Fracassi is one of the most exciting talents around at the moment, and has already nailed one of the best books of the year in Sarafina.
While I find a lot of short story collections to be a bit hit or miss, there is no doubting that they can be fun. Fracassi has put his incredible talent to work in creating a great collection of scary and crazy tales in Traps and Specters.
From a haunted jukebox, to the ‘Mummified Corpse of Reese Witherspoon’, he has conjured a great selection of Twilight Zonesque stories, with my favourite being "I Think My Treehouse Is Haunted".
I’m usually a fan of a long winded, slow burner that builds its world and characters, but this punchy collection absolutely delivers, with some genuinely creepy moments.
Massive thanks to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for the early access.
While I find a lot of short story collections to be a bit hit or miss, there is no doubting that they can be fun. Fracassi has put his incredible talent to work in creating a great collection of scary and crazy tales in Traps and Specters.
From a haunted jukebox, to the ‘Mummified Corpse of Reese Witherspoon’, he has conjured a great selection of Twilight Zonesque stories, with my favourite being "I Think My Treehouse Is Haunted".
I’m usually a fan of a long winded, slow burner that builds its world and characters, but this punchy collection absolutely delivers, with some genuinely creepy moments.
Massive thanks to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for the early access.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you've read any Philip Fracassi then you know he is a master at serving up incredible stories, whether they are novels or short stories. With Traps and Specters: Stories, Fracassi once again delivers, in spades! This is a collection of short, but dark tales, featuring mostly normal people, going about their mostly normal lives. These poor souls find that the lines between success and failure, normality and insanity, and life and death are all extremely thin; very easy to cross on your own, but sometimes you get dragged across, kicking and screaming, without warning.
These stories CREEPED. ME. OUT... in all the good ways! The collection is full of twists and surprises, unhappy spirits, ancient kings, hidden figures and dead relatives. Put 'em all together and you've got a heck of a horror punch for your next party!
D7 - A couple walks into a nightmare when stopping at a remote bar for a quick after dinner drink. A horrific hoedown!
The Visitor - A priest called to visit a troubled family in a remote location learns that the pursuit of knowledge has its own dangers. Chilling!
The Mummified Corpse of Reese Witherspoon - Amazon really WILL sell almost anything, but artist Jack soon learns there's truth in the Latin expression Caveat Emptor. A twisted and creepy delivery!
The Servitor - For generations, one member of the Espinoza family has dedicated his life to maintaining the many traps that preserve and protect the tomb of the Inca king Maco Capac from treasure hunters. Failure is not an option! Tense and surprising!
King Mob - There are orderly protests, and then there's King Mob. Could you resist the temptation to get swept up in the insanity? This story pulls you right into the mob... and history buffs may find a new suspect as the chief instigator of the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in 1780 London.
The Hunter - When you can't escape a father's insane fits of violence, you may have no choice but to make a promise in the dark. Pulse-pounding dread!
Point Oh One - Would knowing, to the second, when you'll die change how you live? The clock is winding down, but will the terror ever end?
Betrothed - Every couple needs their space. But what if one can't let go? Disturbing and unsettling ... 'til death do we part may not tell the whole tale!
My Love, Do Not Wake - Would you want your true love to bend over backwards for you? You may want to pay closer attention to those strange murmurings in the night.
The Black Rider - Some tales are meant to frighten children to encourage good behavior. Maybe we should all listen. Short, and not so sweet... yet immensely satisfying!
Dream of Me - A young girl finds more than just a way to interpret her dreams in the journal gifted to her by her grandmother. Some grandmothers are creepier than others.
The Resident - An empty house. An antiquated safe. Some jobs are just too easy. Until they aren't. Atmospheric and suspenseful.
I Think My Treehouse Is Haunted - A boy and his mother move to a nice house in the suburbs, where he learns that his tree house refuge isn't his alone. Holy crap!! Goosebumps!!! ACTUAL GOOSEBUMPS!!!!
Red Leather - A traveling salesman, having dessert at a local Sabbath diner, gets a double serving of horror when hearing the story of young love. You can always count on a Sabbath tale for a tasty terror treat, and this one does NOT disappoint!
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing for providing an eARC of Traps and Specters: Stories for review via Netgalley!
#TrapsandSpecters #NetGalley
These stories CREEPED. ME. OUT... in all the good ways! The collection is full of twists and surprises, unhappy spirits, ancient kings, hidden figures and dead relatives. Put 'em all together and you've got a heck of a horror punch for your next party!
D7 - A couple walks into a nightmare when stopping at a remote bar for a quick after dinner drink. A horrific hoedown!
The Visitor - A priest called to visit a troubled family in a remote location learns that the pursuit of knowledge has its own dangers. Chilling!
The Mummified Corpse of Reese Witherspoon - Amazon really WILL sell almost anything, but artist Jack soon learns there's truth in the Latin expression Caveat Emptor. A twisted and creepy delivery!
The Servitor - For generations, one member of the Espinoza family has dedicated his life to maintaining the many traps that preserve and protect the tomb of the Inca king Maco Capac from treasure hunters. Failure is not an option! Tense and surprising!
King Mob - There are orderly protests, and then there's King Mob. Could you resist the temptation to get swept up in the insanity? This story pulls you right into the mob... and history buffs may find a new suspect as the chief instigator of the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in 1780 London.
The Hunter - When you can't escape a father's insane fits of violence, you may have no choice but to make a promise in the dark. Pulse-pounding dread!
Point Oh One - Would knowing, to the second, when you'll die change how you live? The clock is winding down, but will the terror ever end?
Betrothed - Every couple needs their space. But what if one can't let go? Disturbing and unsettling ... 'til death do we part may not tell the whole tale!
My Love, Do Not Wake - Would you want your true love to bend over backwards for you? You may want to pay closer attention to those strange murmurings in the night.
The Black Rider - Some tales are meant to frighten children to encourage good behavior. Maybe we should all listen. Short, and not so sweet... yet immensely satisfying!
Dream of Me - A young girl finds more than just a way to interpret her dreams in the journal gifted to her by her grandmother. Some grandmothers are creepier than others.
The Resident - An empty house. An antiquated safe. Some jobs are just too easy. Until they aren't. Atmospheric and suspenseful.
I Think My Treehouse Is Haunted - A boy and his mother move to a nice house in the suburbs, where he learns that his tree house refuge isn't his alone. Holy crap!! Goosebumps!!! ACTUAL GOOSEBUMPS!!!!
Red Leather - A traveling salesman, having dessert at a local Sabbath diner, gets a double serving of horror when hearing the story of young love. You can always count on a Sabbath tale for a tasty terror treat, and this one does NOT disappoint!
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing for providing an eARC of Traps and Specters: Stories for review via Netgalley!
#TrapsandSpecters #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
TRAPS & SPECTERS – PHILIP FRACASSI
I need to come clean; I haven’t read EVERYTHING that Philip Fracassi has ever written. However, what I have read of his (Boys In The Valley, Third Rule of Time Travel, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, and, as of time of writing, I am halfway through Sarafina), I feel like I get a different experience every time. There’s such a variety on offer in Fracassi’s work, whether it be genre, style, theme, or tone of story, that I am always left pleasantly surprised and mildly jealous at the range available in his output.
So, diving into his forthcoming collection, TRAPS & SPECTERS, published by the always wonderful Shortwave Publishing, I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get. Obviously, I knew I was going to get a bunch of well written horror stories, but I wasn’t ready for how many – if not all - of them turned out to be nasty, biting, sharp tales that really pull no punches. Where other authors may write similarly dark stories, they can go in a direction that lessens the overall impact. Not in here, no. What happens here feels like a stab to the gut, that sense of dread of something is going from bad to worse, and there ain’t no getting better from here. Not only that, Fracassi has the gall to then reach into that wound, grab your intestines, drag them out of you like a magician’s scarf trick, and then run away laughing maniacally.
And I think this is why I just couldn’t stop reading this. Like all the best car crashes you pass on the road, something compels you to keep looking, even if your brain knows that that isn’t really a good idea. And like any good collection – and not really a surprise here due to Fracassi’s previously mentioned range of genre hopping horror goodies – you have several distinct flavours of narrative. You have sci-fi, religious horror, historical allegory, dark comedy, a fucking Tomb Raider story, and a story that caps off the whole collection at the end that wouldn’t look out of place in King’s Skeleton Crew. Each contain bold flavours in their uniqueness, and that’s twice now I’ve used the word flavour in this paragraph alone. Am I hungry whilst writing this? Yeah, I am.
Whilst there truly isn’t a dud in this, I want to shout out my favourites, including the opening story D7, a previously published story about a couple who enter a roadside bar and find that they can’t leave; The Visitor, which feels like it written for all the Boys In The Valley fans; The Mummified Corpse Of Reese Witherspoon, which I took to be some statement on AI not allowing the famous to die (I’m thinking about that videogame that was recently announced where you play a samurai warrior and TUPAC FUCKING SHAKUR is one of the main side characters), but then I just ended up laughing through most of it in the best possible way; Point Oh One, which is an episode of Black Mirror yet somehow has possibly the worst implications for everyone involved; Dream of Me, a story that contained my favourite protagonist of the bunch in Jenna, alongside my favourite antagonist; and Red Leather, which is the story that I feel like is a homage to King’s style of short story telling, in a way that I think would be heralded as one of the man’s better small tales.
Overall, I think you can tell that I liked this one. Yeah, I liked this one a lot. Every story will hook you and drive you onto the next because you just can’t stop looking at the carnage, and this continues to cement Fracassi as one my favourite, and one of the industry’s best, modern horror storytellers currently working. Even if the stories he likes to tell are spiteful little bastards that make your withered soul sing for the chaos of it all.
Thanks to Shortwave for the ARC!
Traps & Specters releases Sept 22, 2026!
I need to come clean; I haven’t read EVERYTHING that Philip Fracassi has ever written. However, what I have read of his (Boys In The Valley, Third Rule of Time Travel, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, and, as of time of writing, I am halfway through Sarafina), I feel like I get a different experience every time. There’s such a variety on offer in Fracassi’s work, whether it be genre, style, theme, or tone of story, that I am always left pleasantly surprised and mildly jealous at the range available in his output.
So, diving into his forthcoming collection, TRAPS & SPECTERS, published by the always wonderful Shortwave Publishing, I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get. Obviously, I knew I was going to get a bunch of well written horror stories, but I wasn’t ready for how many – if not all - of them turned out to be nasty, biting, sharp tales that really pull no punches. Where other authors may write similarly dark stories, they can go in a direction that lessens the overall impact. Not in here, no. What happens here feels like a stab to the gut, that sense of dread of something is going from bad to worse, and there ain’t no getting better from here. Not only that, Fracassi has the gall to then reach into that wound, grab your intestines, drag them out of you like a magician’s scarf trick, and then run away laughing maniacally.
And I think this is why I just couldn’t stop reading this. Like all the best car crashes you pass on the road, something compels you to keep looking, even if your brain knows that that isn’t really a good idea. And like any good collection – and not really a surprise here due to Fracassi’s previously mentioned range of genre hopping horror goodies – you have several distinct flavours of narrative. You have sci-fi, religious horror, historical allegory, dark comedy, a fucking Tomb Raider story, and a story that caps off the whole collection at the end that wouldn’t look out of place in King’s Skeleton Crew. Each contain bold flavours in their uniqueness, and that’s twice now I’ve used the word flavour in this paragraph alone. Am I hungry whilst writing this? Yeah, I am.
Whilst there truly isn’t a dud in this, I want to shout out my favourites, including the opening story D7, a previously published story about a couple who enter a roadside bar and find that they can’t leave; The Visitor, which feels like it written for all the Boys In The Valley fans; The Mummified Corpse Of Reese Witherspoon, which I took to be some statement on AI not allowing the famous to die (I’m thinking about that videogame that was recently announced where you play a samurai warrior and TUPAC FUCKING SHAKUR is one of the main side characters), but then I just ended up laughing through most of it in the best possible way; Point Oh One, which is an episode of Black Mirror yet somehow has possibly the worst implications for everyone involved; Dream of Me, a story that contained my favourite protagonist of the bunch in Jenna, alongside my favourite antagonist; and Red Leather, which is the story that I feel like is a homage to King’s style of short story telling, in a way that I think would be heralded as one of the man’s better small tales.
Overall, I think you can tell that I liked this one. Yeah, I liked this one a lot. Every story will hook you and drive you onto the next because you just can’t stop looking at the carnage, and this continues to cement Fracassi as one my favourite, and one of the industry’s best, modern horror storytellers currently working. Even if the stories he likes to tell are spiteful little bastards that make your withered soul sing for the chaos of it all.
Thanks to Shortwave for the ARC!
Traps & Specters releases Sept 22, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
everyone stop what you're doing...Fracassi has a new short story collection dropping soon! now i know we've all already preordered this right??
i might not be much of a short story collection or anthology kind of girlie, but if Fracassi writes it, i'm going to read it. Philip Fracassi has quickly become an autobuy author for me so i was super uber excited to dive into Traps and Specters.
Traps and Specters is a collection of 14 short stories that literally has a little bit of something for everyone who enjoys the horror genre. oh, how we love an author with range!!! from ghosts & demons, to haunted jukeboxes, to tech gone wrong, to even... a mummified Reese Witherspoon, this collection has it all!
like all short story collections, there will be some stories that work for you & some that don't. but let me tell you... the ones that hit?? absolute bangers! one thing about Philip Fracassi is he knows how to write some creepy ass stories. there were a few times i got the heebie jeebies. each story felt unique & unsettling. even though not every story worked for me Philip Fracassi delivered strong, consistent writing from start to finish. overall, Traps & Specters is an unsettling & entertaining set of short stories. it's definitely one of the best horror collections i've read.
My favorites were "The Visitor" (Boys in the Valley fans, this one's for you), "D7," "The Resident" (which immediately reminded me of The Collector or Don't Breathe, think home invasion gone wrong), & "I Think My Treehouse Is Haunted."
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
i might not be much of a short story collection or anthology kind of girlie, but if Fracassi writes it, i'm going to read it. Philip Fracassi has quickly become an autobuy author for me so i was super uber excited to dive into Traps and Specters.
Traps and Specters is a collection of 14 short stories that literally has a little bit of something for everyone who enjoys the horror genre. oh, how we love an author with range!!! from ghosts & demons, to haunted jukeboxes, to tech gone wrong, to even... a mummified Reese Witherspoon, this collection has it all!
like all short story collections, there will be some stories that work for you & some that don't. but let me tell you... the ones that hit?? absolute bangers! one thing about Philip Fracassi is he knows how to write some creepy ass stories. there were a few times i got the heebie jeebies. each story felt unique & unsettling. even though not every story worked for me Philip Fracassi delivered strong, consistent writing from start to finish. overall, Traps & Specters is an unsettling & entertaining set of short stories. it's definitely one of the best horror collections i've read.
My favorites were "The Visitor" (Boys in the Valley fans, this one's for you), "D7," "The Resident" (which immediately reminded me of The Collector or Don't Breathe, think home invasion gone wrong), & "I Think My Treehouse Is Haunted."
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
June 12, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Shortwave Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have been a fan of Philip Fracassi since Boys in the Valley, so I couldn’t really skip reading his short story collection. I would like to begin my thoughts with the novella first, which is the D7. I have read it before, and I don’t really find it enjoyable. The premise was interesting, but it felt rather flat despite everything. For the short stories, most of them were really chillingly good, which is what Fracassi’s writing style is known for, but some of them just didn't hit it yet are still impressively memorable. The ones that I really enjoy are The Visitor, The Servitor, and The Hunter & Betrothed, but my personal favorite is I Think My Treehouse is Haunted. I don’t know how Fracassi does it because nothing ever stops him from creating creepy stories, whether it’s about a serial killer or a haunted house. All the short stories are unique in their own way and very well contained so that none of them feel overwhelming. I always find it quite difficult to rate short story collections, but Traps and Specters is the strongest one I’ve read so far.
Actual rating : 3.75 ⭐️
I have been a fan of Philip Fracassi since Boys in the Valley, so I couldn’t really skip reading his short story collection. I would like to begin my thoughts with the novella first, which is the D7. I have read it before, and I don’t really find it enjoyable. The premise was interesting, but it felt rather flat despite everything. For the short stories, most of them were really chillingly good, which is what Fracassi’s writing style is known for, but some of them just didn't hit it yet are still impressively memorable. The ones that I really enjoy are The Visitor, The Servitor, and The Hunter & Betrothed, but my personal favorite is I Think My Treehouse is Haunted. I don’t know how Fracassi does it because nothing ever stops him from creating creepy stories, whether it’s about a serial killer or a haunted house. All the short stories are unique in their own way and very well contained so that none of them feel overwhelming. I always find it quite difficult to rate short story collections, but Traps and Specters is the strongest one I’ve read so far.
Actual rating : 3.75 ⭐️
June 14, 2026
An anthology of 14 short stories that delight and disgust, scary and haunting as well as dark and dreadful. Demons, ghosts, ancient secrets, isolation, human nature, and even Reese Witherspoon, among other things, traverse these well written pages. Some of the tales are more cautionary scares. Overall the main and prevailing theme in this work seems to be about human nature-and not the good side of it.
I enjoyed each one of these for different reasons…I loved the uniqueness of each story. Each one had a different spin, a unique focus and was creepy and engaging for different reasons. Some very short but some a little longer, they gave enough detail to make me squirm but also left me wanting more. Perfectly balanced horror.
D7 and Point Oh One were my favorites, although there was not a story I disliked in this anthology. My Love, Do Not Wake was unhinged in a strange but interesting way. Red Leather, the last of the tales is haunting and terrifying! Very solidly done and kept my interest as each story unfolded. I was looking forward to the next one as I went along and found myself picking it back up almost immediately after I put it down.
Thank you Net Galley and Shortwave Publishing for the ARC and chance to review this book. All opinions are my own!
I enjoyed each one of these for different reasons…I loved the uniqueness of each story. Each one had a different spin, a unique focus and was creepy and engaging for different reasons. Some very short but some a little longer, they gave enough detail to make me squirm but also left me wanting more. Perfectly balanced horror.
D7 and Point Oh One were my favorites, although there was not a story I disliked in this anthology. My Love, Do Not Wake was unhinged in a strange but interesting way. Red Leather, the last of the tales is haunting and terrifying! Very solidly done and kept my interest as each story unfolded. I was looking forward to the next one as I went along and found myself picking it back up almost immediately after I put it down.
Thank you Net Galley and Shortwave Publishing for the ARC and chance to review this book. All opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Philip Fracassi has quickly become an auto-buy author for me, and Traps and Specters is another reason why. This collection has such a great mix of stories—haunted objects, ghosts, technology gone wrong, and plenty of dark, unsettling moments. Every story felt different, but they all had the same atmosphere and quality that I've come to expect from Fracassi.
What I enjoy most about his writing is how easily he pulls me into a story. Whether it's a short piece or a longer novella, I always find myself completely invested in the characters and eager to see where things are going.
By the time I finished Traps and Specters, I was reminded once again why Philip Fracassi has become one of my favourite authors. His storytelling feels effortless, his imagination is remarkable, and he consistently delivers stories that are both entertaining and genuinely unsettling. Few writers can blend atmosphere, emotion, and horror as effectively as he does. This is an outstanding collection, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
What I enjoy most about his writing is how easily he pulls me into a story. Whether it's a short piece or a longer novella, I always find myself completely invested in the characters and eager to see where things are going.
By the time I finished Traps and Specters, I was reminded once again why Philip Fracassi has become one of my favourite authors. His storytelling feels effortless, his imagination is remarkable, and he consistently delivers stories that are both entertaining and genuinely unsettling. Few writers can blend atmosphere, emotion, and horror as effectively as he does. This is an outstanding collection, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Are you looking for a terrifying, spine-tingling book that will have you looking over your shoulder? Then "Traps and Specters", an upcoming collection of fourteen terrifying short stories, is pefect from you. It will hook you from page one and not let go. From deadly tombs to haunted jukeboxes to medical tests that can tell you exactly when you going to die, there is a story for everyone! My favorite story was the body horror one. Lesson learned from this story: check the back of your head for unusual bumps…
This book is perfect excellent example of Fracassi's amazing writing talent. He is a versatile author with stories in "Traps and Specters" ranging from the supernatural to body horror to possession to slasher sub-genres of horror. A short story gives the author limited time to "get to the point" and Fracassi does this perfectly. Many of the stories were unsettling, leaving me with a feeling of dread at their conclusion.
Whether you prefer novels, short stories, or a particulary sub-genre of horror, this collection is a MUST READ. Make sure to pre-order it!
This book is perfect excellent example of Fracassi's amazing writing talent. He is a versatile author with stories in "Traps and Specters" ranging from the supernatural to body horror to possession to slasher sub-genres of horror. A short story gives the author limited time to "get to the point" and Fracassi does this perfectly. Many of the stories were unsettling, leaving me with a feeling of dread at their conclusion.
Whether you prefer novels, short stories, or a particulary sub-genre of horror, this collection is a MUST READ. Make sure to pre-order it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Traps and Specters
Author: Philip Fracassi
Publisher: Shortwave Publishing
Fracassi’s new book of short stories is macabrely thrilling!
I took my time to read this and savor the stories and it was worth it. All of my favorite types of horror are represented: some bizarrely fun (...Reese Witherspoon), to gory AF (The Hunter), to sci-fi horror (Point Oh One), romance gone wrong (The Servitor and My Love…), and several middle grade fiction stories that were chilling- not all stories mentioned here.
Fracassi really shows us his chops and how adaptable he is. There is not one story that I did not love. Every one of these stories is so well written, he is truly masterful in his craft. Although I am a Fracassi fan, this is my first time reading any of his short stories and I’m looking forward to going back and reading some of his old collections as well as anticipating more.
Many thanks to Shortwave for allowing me to read this ARC.
Author: Philip Fracassi
Publisher: Shortwave Publishing
Fracassi’s new book of short stories is macabrely thrilling!
I took my time to read this and savor the stories and it was worth it. All of my favorite types of horror are represented: some bizarrely fun (...Reese Witherspoon), to gory AF (The Hunter), to sci-fi horror (Point Oh One), romance gone wrong (The Servitor and My Love…), and several middle grade fiction stories that were chilling- not all stories mentioned here.
Fracassi really shows us his chops and how adaptable he is. There is not one story that I did not love. Every one of these stories is so well written, he is truly masterful in his craft. Although I am a Fracassi fan, this is my first time reading any of his short stories and I’m looking forward to going back and reading some of his old collections as well as anticipating more.
Many thanks to Shortwave for allowing me to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
In this collection of short stories and novellas, Philip Fracassi takes you on rides with numerous ghosts, demons and other paranormal entities. His writing is sharp as ever, and even when an entry seems like it's of the tamer variety, he pulls no punches, knocking the wind out of you by the end. There was only one story that really didn't do anything for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of those included in this book. "Red Leather" felt like the kind of Americana Ray Bradbury would pen, except it went places I don't think Ray ever plumbed. My favorites were definitely "Dream of Me" and "I Think My Treehouse is Haunted," as both superbly steadily built their tension, and were genuinely frightening.
In this collection of short stories and novellas, Philip Fracassi takes you on rides with numerous ghosts, demons and other paranormal entities. His writing is sharp as ever, and even when an entry seems like it's of the tamer variety, he pulls no punches, knocking the wind out of you by the end. There was only one story that really didn't do anything for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of those included in this book. "Red Leather" felt like the kind of Americana Ray Bradbury would pen, except it went places I don't think Ray ever plumbed. My favorites were definitely "Dream of Me" and "I Think My Treehouse is Haunted," as both superbly steadily built their tension, and were genuinely frightening.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Aptly named, Traps and Specters by Philip Fracassi is an excellent collection of short stories full of chills and unforgettable imagery.
While in collections such as this not every single story can be a hit, I can honestly say there wasn't one that underwhelmed me in any way, even if a few weren't quite my cup of tea.
I was impressed by the range shown by Fracassi in this collection. The stories were versatile; from classic haunted houses with a twist to chilling serial killers, there was something for everyone in this book.
Personal favourites were D7, The Visitor, Dream of Me, The Resident, and Red Leather, which has haunted me since I finished it.
Highly recommended.
With thanks to Shortwave Publishing for the ARC.
While in collections such as this not every single story can be a hit, I can honestly say there wasn't one that underwhelmed me in any way, even if a few weren't quite my cup of tea.
I was impressed by the range shown by Fracassi in this collection. The stories were versatile; from classic haunted houses with a twist to chilling serial killers, there was something for everyone in this book.
Personal favourites were D7, The Visitor, Dream of Me, The Resident, and Red Leather, which has haunted me since I finished it.
Highly recommended.
With thanks to Shortwave Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A collection of 14 short stories, these horror stories cast a wide of net over time, topics, and shocks that pack a big punch for how bite sized they are. You'll be wondering, how on earth is Reese Witherspoon involved? (Story #3) And find yourself both cackling and disgusted.
It was a slow start because I didn't love D7, the 1st short story, but after #2, The Visitor, I was hooked!
My top 5 reads from the collection:
- The Mummified Corpse of Reese Witherspoon
- The Visitor
- My Love, Do Not Wake
- Point Oh One
- Dream of Me
I really enjoyed how unique each story was, usually short story collections can become repetitive, but Traps and Specters will keep you guessing from begining to end.
Coming September 2026!
It was a slow start because I didn't love D7, the 1st short story, but after #2, The Visitor, I was hooked!
My top 5 reads from the collection:
- The Mummified Corpse of Reese Witherspoon
- The Visitor
- My Love, Do Not Wake
- Point Oh One
- Dream of Me
I really enjoyed how unique each story was, usually short story collections can become repetitive, but Traps and Specters will keep you guessing from begining to end.
Coming September 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishing for the eARC of Traps and Specters. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When I was a child and having sleepovers with friends, we used to love reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. This felt like an adult version of that, and that is high praise. A sense of nostalgia washed over me as I read this, and even though the fourteen tales were short, some were downright scary.
Fracassi varies his tone so much throughout the writing of this as well. Each story has a different feel and is written with different enough style to provide a good break between. The story that got to me the most was the one about the nameless narrator and the tree house. That one, I fear, I will be thinking about for days.
Masterful.
When I was a child and having sleepovers with friends, we used to love reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. This felt like an adult version of that, and that is high praise. A sense of nostalgia washed over me as I read this, and even though the fourteen tales were short, some were downright scary.
Fracassi varies his tone so much throughout the writing of this as well. Each story has a different feel and is written with different enough style to provide a good break between. The story that got to me the most was the one about the nameless narrator and the tree house. That one, I fear, I will be thinking about for days.
Masterful.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing and Netgalley for an eARC of Traps and Specters by Philip Fracassi. Traps and Specters is a masterful short story collection that veers all over the place while staying delightfully horrific. I was constantly engaged in the different premises the stories held, including talking celebrity corpses, guarding tombs, and treehouse hauntings, to name a few. What constantly surprised me is how Fracassi was able to build up these characters and plots and take them to an unexpected place. If you enjoy horror and short fiction, Traps and Specters is a standout release and a highlight for the year so far.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Every story in this collection is creepy, deeply unsettling and highly original. If I had to pick a favorite, it would either be "D7" (which reminded me a lot of one of my favorite King's short stories, "Willa") or "I Think My Treehouse is Haunted". The final story in this collection, "Red Leather", truly gave me chills. This might be my favorite horror collection of the year, if not of recent years. I will definitely re-read this one.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!
I'm a big fan of Philip Fracassi, especially the tongue and cheek style of writing. It feels like goosebumps for grown ups, and this short story collection really highlights that. They always had some kind of hook or reveal that made the conclusions satisfying, if not a little repetitive. The story it begins with about a juke box was particularly fun and inventive.
I'm a big fan of Philip Fracassi, especially the tongue and cheek style of writing. It feels like goosebumps for grown ups, and this short story collection really highlights that. They always had some kind of hook or reveal that made the conclusions satisfying, if not a little repetitive. The story it begins with about a juke box was particularly fun and inventive.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks for NetGalley for the opportunity to review this one early.
I’ve read a lot of Fracassi. Loved a lot of his works. This collection just didn’t have anything that interesting to me. All the stories were mostly boring and lacked something engaging. I don’t think I’ll be able to recall any of them in a few days.
I’ve read a lot of Fracassi. Loved a lot of his works. This collection just didn’t have anything that interesting to me. All the stories were mostly boring and lacked something engaging. I don’t think I’ll be able to recall any of them in a few days.
June 14, 2026
ARC review. This is a collection of short stories.
I enjoyed the stories in this book a lot. They were a good mix of different things and nothing felt stale or boring. My favourite stories were D7, Betrothed and My Love, Do Not Wake. That last one especially was pretty creepy. Loved it!
I enjoyed the stories in this book a lot. They were a good mix of different things and nothing felt stale or boring. My favourite stories were D7, Betrothed and My Love, Do Not Wake. That last one especially was pretty creepy. Loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another great collection filled with all sorts of horror. Has some real gems in this one.
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