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The Halloween to End the World: A Halloween Horror Novella
This Halloween, when the doorbell rings, it’s not trick-or-treaters coming to ask for candy.
It’s an army of Halloween monsters. And they’ve come for blood.
Something is happening to the town of Salem Grove. Black clouds choke the sky. Residents sit in their homes, dazed, as though they’ve been put under a spell.
As the sun goes down, Halloween creatures stream from a shuttered factory downtown. The killing starts soon after.
It’s up to brothers Jaylen and Kaiden to stop the carnage … if they can make it to the factory alive.
The Halloween to End the World is a fast-paced horror novella filled with masked killers, snarling werewolves, hideous vampires, and demonic creatures birthed from pumpkins.
Includes bonus story The Sam Hain Halloween Spooktacular : A demonic entity drags a jaded rock star onto a bizarre Halloween game show where the stakes are life or death
It’s an army of Halloween monsters. And they’ve come for blood.
Something is happening to the town of Salem Grove. Black clouds choke the sky. Residents sit in their homes, dazed, as though they’ve been put under a spell.
As the sun goes down, Halloween creatures stream from a shuttered factory downtown. The killing starts soon after.
It’s up to brothers Jaylen and Kaiden to stop the carnage … if they can make it to the factory alive.
The Halloween to End the World is a fast-paced horror novella filled with masked killers, snarling werewolves, hideous vampires, and demonic creatures birthed from pumpkins.
Includes bonus story The Sam Hain Halloween Spooktacular : A demonic entity drags a jaded rock star onto a bizarre Halloween game show where the stakes are life or death
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2026
About the author
Matthew Doggett
81 books59 followersMatthew Doggett writes in the thriller and horror genres, penning tales about unlikely heroes and blood-curdling monsters.
He's the author of seventeen novels, three novellas, and over 200 published short stories. He's also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. You can find his work featured on the Dr. NoSleep podcast and the SCP Experience podcast.
Despite the recent rise in AI-based writing tools some authors are using to "write" their stories, all of Matthew's books and stories are written entirely by him. He does not use AI tools to assist his writing, and has no plans to do so in the future.
He's currently living in the American South, working on his next novel.
He's the author of seventeen novels, three novellas, and over 200 published short stories. He's also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. You can find his work featured on the Dr. NoSleep podcast and the SCP Experience podcast.
Despite the recent rise in AI-based writing tools some authors are using to "write" their stories, all of Matthew's books and stories are written entirely by him. He does not use AI tools to assist his writing, and has no plans to do so in the future.
He's currently living in the American South, working on his next novel.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 7, 2026
I received an ARC from the author as a gift. And here is my feedback.
If you are new to the author, you will give this book a thousand stars. Since I have been reading his stories religiously, there will come a time when things are no longer exciting as they were. Hence, 4.25 stars rounded down to 4.
The story has a mixture of horror and slasher genres. Then, the more I read it, the mystery and suspense elements of Halloween were soon replaced by the constant death and packed actions. To someone, this could be lovely because this is a novella and things need to be fast paced. Yet, as my preference is that the Halloween spirit should be clearer and not just a season (context) where the event took place, I think the book could have focused more on the Halloween theme.
To be fair, the background stories of the main characters (the two brothers) were decent. Yet, the distinction among characters were soon lost because the tone of the narration read just the same to me. This simply means that the book could reduce the number of characters (nearly all of them died any way) and strengthen the horror (not gore) and the suspense (not massacre), making the reading more intense such that the climax would be awaited in bathed breath.
The synopsis of the story already summarised it well and there is no need to repeat what the story is about, let alone it is a novella. However, if you like this book, you must seek all other anthologies from the author (because they are very good, or even better). In addition, the current book contained a bonus story which is also interesting by itself. However, in my own opinion, rather than writing two stories, as it is already a novella, why don't we just focus on and refine the main one? Still, opinion differs as perhaps the author wishes to give the readers another taste of his writing style (and talent).
If you want to understand the true horror and suspense spirit of Halloween I mentioned, please read "The Scarecrow Massacre: And Nine Other Halloween Horror Stories" by the same author. The first story of that collection may enlighten your definition of what it means by Halloween horror.
In sum, a solid 4 stars for the current book. I hope many readers will read it and the author will deliver many more excellent stories.
Best wishes to the author!
If you are new to the author, you will give this book a thousand stars. Since I have been reading his stories religiously, there will come a time when things are no longer exciting as they were. Hence, 4.25 stars rounded down to 4.
The story has a mixture of horror and slasher genres. Then, the more I read it, the mystery and suspense elements of Halloween were soon replaced by the constant death and packed actions. To someone, this could be lovely because this is a novella and things need to be fast paced. Yet, as my preference is that the Halloween spirit should be clearer and not just a season (context) where the event took place, I think the book could have focused more on the Halloween theme.
To be fair, the background stories of the main characters (the two brothers) were decent. Yet, the distinction among characters were soon lost because the tone of the narration read just the same to me. This simply means that the book could reduce the number of characters (nearly all of them died any way) and strengthen the horror (not gore) and the suspense (not massacre), making the reading more intense such that the climax would be awaited in bathed breath.
The synopsis of the story already summarised it well and there is no need to repeat what the story is about, let alone it is a novella. However, if you like this book, you must seek all other anthologies from the author (because they are very good, or even better). In addition, the current book contained a bonus story which is also interesting by itself. However, in my own opinion, rather than writing two stories, as it is already a novella, why don't we just focus on and refine the main one? Still, opinion differs as perhaps the author wishes to give the readers another taste of his writing style (and talent).
If you want to understand the true horror and suspense spirit of Halloween I mentioned, please read "The Scarecrow Massacre: And Nine Other Halloween Horror Stories" by the same author. The first story of that collection may enlighten your definition of what it means by Halloween horror.
In sum, a solid 4 stars for the current book. I hope many readers will read it and the author will deliver many more excellent stories.
Best wishes to the author!
October 20, 2026
I am guessing all small towns have their own little quirks and oddities.
I don't think they have anything like Salem Grove. Halloween is always a fun and scary time. You never know if someone dressed up like a killer is a real killer or not.
In this story you may not be so sure what you see on Halloween is real or not. This author has a way of dragging you into every story and before you know it you are looking over your own shoulder at night. If you love Halloween and all things horror this is the book for you.
I don't think they have anything like Salem Grove. Halloween is always a fun and scary time. You never know if someone dressed up like a killer is a real killer or not.
In this story you may not be so sure what you see on Halloween is real or not. This author has a way of dragging you into every story and before you know it you are looking over your own shoulder at night. If you love Halloween and all things horror this is the book for you.
October 9, 2026
I love the way Matthew used so many different Halloween influences and brought them together to create a new, unique story. The reactions from our main characters felt genuine and real, while giving us crazy monsters attacking in an unexpected way. I also really enjoyed the bonus story of Sam Hain. The visions created through the story telling are some of the best in my opinion!
October 18, 2026
Creative and Original.
Matt Doggett is an original, creative, and intentional writer who features authentic characters and develops plot lines of high quality.
Without giving spoilers, all I can say is the story takes place in a NE town on Halloween, and one really has no clue what the root is of all the chaos. Seriously. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Matt Doggett is an original, creative, and intentional writer who features authentic characters and develops plot lines of high quality.
Without giving spoilers, all I can say is the story takes place in a NE town on Halloween, and one really has no clue what the root is of all the chaos. Seriously. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
October 20, 2026
not bad
This reminded me of a more gory and violent Goosebumps. I didn’t mind it, but although it was violent and gory I still felt like I was reading a children’s book…
This reminded me of a more gory and violent Goosebumps. I didn’t mind it, but although it was violent and gory I still felt like I was reading a children’s book…
October 20, 2026
Brilliant! & at the same time absolutely horrifying! If you like your horror with a large dollop of gore, this is for you! Well written, well paced & terrifying! A great read!
October 23, 2026
Great Halloween story
Enjoyed this story Matthew Doggett knows how to keep you turning the pages.
Interesting characters and story only took 2 days to read this one
Enjoyed this story Matthew Doggett knows how to keep you turning the pages.
Interesting characters and story only took 2 days to read this one
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews