Moody Road

by Chris Kauzlarich

You don’t find Moody Road. Moody Road finds you.

Walker Herbert is lost. Lost in himself. Lost in the spaces between who he is and who the people he loves need him to be. When an old local legend pulls him and his closest friends into the dark of a rural Indiana night, the hunt they bargained for becomes something far more personal—and far more predatory.

Moody Road is a slow-burn horror novella about the demons we carry into dark places—and about what happens when something out there decides to hold the door open for them.

For fans of Paul Tremblay’s unflinching psychological dread, Josh Malerman’s suffocating rural atmosphere, and the quiet domestic terror of Shirley Jackson.

Genres: Horror

92 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Chris Kauzlarich is the author of the horror short story collection Menagerie in the Dark and the novellas LAZARUS and Moody Road. A member of the Horror Writers Association, the International Thriller Writers, the Authors Guild, AWP, and the Chicago Writers Association, he writes dark fiction that unsettles precisely because it lives so close to home. A graduate of Purdue University, Chris lives with his husband and daughter between Chicago, IL, and Naples, FL — or somewhere on the open road in their RV, where the best and worst ideas tend to find him.

To stay updated with Chris and discover new books, connect with him on social media or sign up for his newsletter at chriskauzlarich.com.

Reviews

[Jk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free Kindle copy of this book via a Goodreads Giveaway win and would like to thank anyone involved in making that happen.

My rating on this novella is more like 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the framing device used and the unfolding mystery of how and where the main character ended up. There were a few small issues with the editing/writing that pulled me out of the story a bit, one example being the word auditory used in a sentence when clearly the word visual was meant instead, but nothing major. Overall, this was a quick, fun and creepy read!

[MollyK · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded up for indy cred.

This was better than I expected it to be! Moody Road was one of the giveaways that I entered as a lark, since no one had review it yet I wasn't sure what to expect. The blub mention Tremblay, who is very hit an miss for me. Nevertheless "suffocating rural atmosphere" was what triggered my click.

I would say Moody Road is indeed a gratifying addition to the mid west folk horror pantheon. For a novella the pacing was good and the plot/ story felt decently fleshed out. Oh an I am so here for Haunted Facebook.

[JWo1855 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In almost every small town tales similar to Moody Road can be found. Whether it’s hands pushing stalled cars over train tracks, ghostly hitchhikers, or strange lights appearing, the stories have people who stay away and others who want to experience it themselves. I fall into the latter.

Because of that I really enjoyed Moody Road! I loved the backstory & the bravado of the friends who wanted to experience it.

There’s a twist that’s threaded throughout but not revealed until the end, which was pretty cool.

I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway, but this review is my own.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up
I received a digital copy of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Moody Road is a fun, fairly quick novella about three friends who investigate an urban legend of a haunted road. The way the story is framed, you start knowing things are not gonna end well, but the road to is a spooky tale of jealousy and rage.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a thrilling, spooky little ride this was! it had me on the edge of my seat and I devoured it in one sitting! this took me back to high school and the small town lore they all have … highly recommend!!

[Sandy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love

I received this ebook from goodreads giveaways...and this is 100 percent my honest review

I really enjoyed this short story...i felt the pacing and plot we spot on...a twist i didn't see coming and would definitely read more from this author in the future