No Place Like Home: A Short Horror Story

by Drew Carter

23 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Lena Reads Everything]

A young boy named David moves into a house with his family, only to discover it is haunted by a growing and sinister presence. As the terrifying encounters escalate, the family is forced to flee. Years later, David returns as an adult, determined to confront the nightmares that haunted his childhood once and for all.

Think about all the stories that you were told about the dark corners in your house and whatever lives in your closet when you were little, pack it in this super short novel, and you get this fantastic little tale of terror.

This really felt very nostalgic like those short horror stories that you would tell your siblings or friends at sleep overs. In a traditional sense, this felt like a typical haunted house story, but honestly these are the stories that are the best and truest forms of terror. There’s a reason why they are continually used and in this story, it shows how well this can still be told.

Not going to lie, there were moments were I felt like I was reading a scene that matched my sleep paralysis demon and it delighted and unsettled me all at once. Giving similar vibes to Incidents Around the House with some The Babadook and Poltergeist, I think if you like these stories, you’ll like this little gem.

Thanks to Drew for reaching out and sending me this to read. I had a great time reading this! 4/5

[Crysta]

This was such a fast-paced read, and by the end, I was left wanting more. The creature reminded me of the boogeyman most of us fear as children, which made the whole thing feel even creepier.

One of my favorite details was the fact that it didn’t just kill the children and move on. It attached itself to them and fed off their fear, growing stronger and stronger until it was finally ready to kill. I really liked that because usually, the creature just eats the kid/person and that’s it. This felt more drawn out and honestly way more unsettling.

Carter knows exactly how to give you just enough without overexplaining everything. You understand what you need to, but there’s still enough left in the dark to make you sit there and think about it.

The ending was bittersweet, and I definitely finished this wishing there was more.

[Chris Archeske]

Drew Carter’s “No Place Like Home” is like a nostalgic blast to the past—if your past ever appeared on Kindertrauma. It follows David and his boyhood experience living with an evil entity in his closet. David, now grown and moved out of the house, soon realizes the entity never left, and the only way to put an end to the terror is to return to his childhood home and face his fears one last time. Full of unsettling imagery and shared childhood memories, this is an effective short story that will satiate fans of understated horror. But be warned: if mannequins creep you out, this one will kick you right in the teeth. Recommended.

[Linnea]

I love a good short horror story, and this one was such a fun, creepy read! The imagery really stood out to me, especially the descriptions of the evil. Drew Carter gives you just enough detail to picture it vividly, and the tension surrounding it makes those images stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.

I made the mistake of reading this one at night, and I definitely found myself a little more aware of the dark corners in the room afterward. Read it during the day or be prepared to wonder what might be hiding in the shadows. Reminds me of the short film Lights Out, and how you can’t get the images out of your mind.

5 stars! Looking forward to reading more from Drew Carter.

[⊹₊⟡⋆kara⋆⟡₊⊹]

No Place Like Home by Drew Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A horror read that manages to pack a lot into just 23 pages! I really enjoyed the eerie atmosphere and the unsettling feeling throughout. The story revolves around a childhood home, an ancient evil, and a young girl who needs saving. It definitely gave me that boogeyman vibe.

I was surprised by how much this story was able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. If you’re looking for a quick, creepy read that you can finish in one sitting, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try!

[Bree Martinez]

Okay I really liked this one!

It's super short, but manages to pack a surprising amount of creepiness into such a quick story. And that monster??? Absolutely fucking terrifying 👹👻

There was something about the nostalgic feeling this one had that added to the tension and the creepiness. Honestly gave me Skinamarink vibes a little bit! And the way the monster sounded that made my brain immediately go, yeah, I'm going to think about that later when I'm trying to sleep 😅
Naturally, I chose to read this after midnight, because apparently I enjoy creeping myself out. By the time I finished, every little sound in my house suddenly felt suspicious, and I eventually decided that sleeping with a lamp on was the only reasonable solution 💀

This one was quick, creepy, weird, and genuinely fun to read! Would absolutely recommend this one if you like your horror short, strange, and just spooky enough to make you regret reading it alone at night. Just maybe don't read it at 12:30 AM in a dark room like I did 😹 Unless you're into that lol

[Aeroreader]

No Place Like Home is an unsettling short story that highlights what happens when nightmares don’t stay in your childhood. Quick to build up the dread, this is a fun story that will get you locking your closet door at night. Great read.

[Christie Hatley]

This short story was actually fantastic!!
The pace was great and had me deep into the story telling. It creeped me out in the good scary way. I will be reading more of Drew Cater.

[Tanya]

Quick read, will definitely scare you but also leave you wanting more!!

[Kiki]

Another solid short from Drew, who has become one of my auto-read authors.

This creepy little haunted house tale hits the ground running and is sufficiently chilling from beginning to pretty much the end. I have mixed feelings about the ending, which is the only reason this wasn't five stars, for me. If you're looking for a creepy quick read, give this a shot!