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When Halloween Was Green

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The Irish monsters of Halloween have returned...

The scare in Halloween is gone from Middle America. With its celebrity-obsessed culture preferring glitter, pirates, and princesses, Keith and Benny MacCool's frightening haunted house attraction isn't what it used to be.When the few remaining Halloween enthusiasts in town start turning up dead, the MacCools unearth the source of the problem: something has awakened from Halloween's distant past. The Celtic monsters and legends of old Ireland have discovered modern man has dumbed-down every tradition that once protected mortals on the scariest night of the year. And they have plans this Halloween.But Keith and Benny have survived a lifetime of personal demons and possess insider knowledge of every Halloween fright ever devised. When the sun sets on October 31st, the MacCools are the only ones who can confront the Celtic horrors not witnessed in 2000 years. Things are about to get scary—fast.

436 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2016

12 people are currently reading
104 people want to read

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Bernard K. Finnigan

2 books12 followers

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5 stars
17 (32%)
4 stars
13 (24%)
3 stars
18 (33%)
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3 (5%)
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2 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for ♥ Joy Joy ♥.
462 reviews36 followers
November 8, 2016
Just...WOW! There is no information on this author so I'm going to assume it's not a pseudonym and say...."WHERE has this guy been?"

I don't know where to start. The writing, characters, plot...all of it was absolutely well done. It was intriguing, immersive and felt more reminiscent of "real" horror versus the type nowadays that goes for gore over suspense. (Though I didn't find it to be "scary" like some Stephen King novels, it was still one that was well done with the suspense and mystery in regards to what was going on.)

I love how apparent and in-depth the author's research must have been. He managed to showcase Halloween's original beginnings, represent Irish/Celtic folklore and then mix it all in with the modern/mundane world without becoming tedious (which it easily could have been with so many details) or over the top.

He took a great concept and merged it with a simple plot that managed to keep you on the edge of your seat. On top of that, he included characters that were real and had depth. I do think, however, there was room for more character growth and reveal, but it wasn't lacking so not going to dock stars off for that.

Another issue I had, was when the author would merge characters. Not going to go into depth because I don't want to spoil it, but if he's reading this I would suggest only doing (for example) Bob/Bill once or twice and then going with one or the other from then on. After a couple times, the reader will be easily be able to know the characters are merged until you say otherwise. Or go with a pronoun to represent the duo or just call them Bob-Bill if you absolutely need to state both names. The slash (especially after so many times in a row) wasn't really immersive friendly. I found myself jarred out of the story a couple times because of the overuse of it.

In conclusion: Highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing more work by the author.

I only wish I'd read this sooner so I could have nominated him for the 2016 Debut Goodreads Author! Unfortunately the published date falls for this year so no chance of nominating this next year :( Hopefully he'll come out with another book equally as good as this one so I can.

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Profile Image for Kelsi - Slime and Slashers.
386 reviews259 followers
November 5, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.

This book has an amazing atmosphere, setting, and vibe. The story is unique, and this book is incredibly thematic for Halloween time! Plus, I love the Irish flare contained in this story! So many cool creatures, and lots of scenes take place in various haunted attractions! I love that!

The only reason I can't rate this book higher is because it became very, very repetitive, and I feel like it could have been chopped down by at least 100 pages or more. If it wasn't for the length, this really would be a perfect book. Some of the action scenes dragged on for far too long and just became monotonous. However, I'm still very glad I read this.

I think people should be more aware of this book's existence, and I think people should pick it up for a read as long as they're okay knowing it gets repetitive at times. But I still feel like you can't go wrong if you pick this book up in autumn or during Halloween time.
Profile Image for Bernard.
1 review
Read
October 27, 2017
Thank you to everyone who has read the novel. I plan on starting the sequel soon.
Profile Image for Kirstin Pulioff.
Author 13 books821 followers
November 26, 2016
A great new (or old ;)) take on Halloween. This book is original, fun, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's like the Christopher Pike books of my youth, with a kick.
Profile Image for Bev(baglady).
367 reviews
December 6, 2016
I truly enjoyed the story. The only thing that stopped me from giving it a five star rating was the really bad editing. the extra words, missing words, grammar errors, and sentences that made absolutely no sense at all took away from the book.
Profile Image for Kenya Starflight.
1,667 reviews21 followers
June 21, 2018
I purchased this book from a local author at a comic convention almost a year ago, so it's about time I got around to reading it, I suppose... I'm a sucker for books involving mythology, and while Greek and Norse myths seem to get most of the attention, seeing Irish mythology get a turn in the spotlight was a treat. And while this book does have its flaws -- there were typos and some awkward prose in some areas, and the book is way too thick and needlessly padded in spots -- I enjoyed it, and it kept me on the edge of my seat and frantically turning the pages all the way to the very end.

"When Halloween Was Green" follows Benny MacCool and his uncle Keith as they work in a haunted house, providing scares for paying customers and butting heads with their greedy co-owner. Keith considers himself a horror aficionado and complains that modern society has gutted Halloween of its scares and true meaning, while Benny is more of a scaredy-cat and is still struggling to cope with the death of his sister in a brutal accident. But when mysterious forces start killing off the owners and workers at other haunted-house attractions in the area, Keith and Benny realize that it isn't just a mad serial killer at work. The dark creatures of Ireland remember how Halloween/Samhein used to be celebrated, and they're eager to take back the holiday as their own. It falls on Keith and Benny, descendants of the legendary Irish hero Finn MacCool, to stop these vile creatures from destroying their town and thrusting humanity back into the Dark Ages... but both of them have to conquer their own demons first.

Bernard Finnigan's writing keeps up a good pace, and he knows how to instill a sense of horror and dread in his work. He's done his research on creatures of Irish myth and the roots of some of our most beloved Halloween traditions as well, and given us a fascinating new look at the holiday. (I admit to not knowing much about Irish mythology myself, but this book makes me want to learn more...) And his protagonists are believable and relatable, both being forced to grow as people and confront their own nightmares in order to do what must be done. There were also some delightful secondary characters as well, and the villains were quite chilling -- and while they weren't as complex and nuanced as I usually like my fictional villains, I'm willing to cut them some slack for being supernatural entities rather than actual people.

That said... this book isn't without its problems. There are some awkward turns of phrase here and there, and I found quite a few typos and grammatical errors as I read. Proofreading -- it's not just a good idea, it should be a law when it comes to books, even independently-published ones. Also, it felt like there was a good deal of padding in this book, not just with action scenes thrown in for the sake of having action scenes but a LOT of repetition, especially with Keith's frequent preaching about how Halloween has gone from being scary to being cute, commercial, sexualized, or all three. I get that the author was trying to make a statement, but it didn't need to be repeated every twenty pages...

Despite its flaws, this is a decent first novel, and even with its flaws it still kept me eagerly reading to the very last page -- which, really, means a book has done its job. It was a fun read, and it not only makes me want to do more research on the myths and creatures of Old Ireland, it makes me look forward to next Halloween... and to Finnigan's next novel, should he choose to write and print one.
1 review1 follower
September 2, 2018
Bernard K. Finnigan's masterwork, "When Halloween Was Green" is everything a fan of October 31st could ask for. It has deadly creatures, apparitions, and monsters, the majority of which most readers will never have heard of. He unleashes these phantasms on the reader with breakneck abandon, not so much urging you as dragging you from one quickly-turned page to the next, keeping you equally eager and nervous about what is to come.

Into this witch's brew, Finnigan drops characters both relatable and likable, letting us see the suspense and horror unfold through their eyes as well as giving us someone to cheer for. Main characters Benny and his Uncle Keith are dedicated (and knowledgeable!) Halloween aficionados. They and a small group of people with a true understanding of why Halloween is scary are all that stand against the coming storm with its blackened clouds of screaming ghouls and shape-shifting monstrosities. It is small group that is dying off fast. Because if you're the thing to be scared of, your smartest move is to rid the rest of the world of those who know how to fight you.

"When Halloween Was Green" is a thrill ride that brings old Irish legends back to life on the page and unleashes them on unsuspecting victims and wide-eyed readers. I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Finnigan briefly at a comic con in Oregon in March 2018. He was charming and articulate, and it was clear after just a few moments conversation that his heart belonged to the chilling winds of autumn, the flickering glow of jack-o-lanterns, and the quick silhouette of those astride broomsticks flying over the moon. There could be no better person to take your hand through prose and show you that the holiday you know and love is something you really don't know at all.

The story, with characters you quickly fall in love with, harrowing scenes, nerve-wracking suspense, and laughs in all the right places is indeed a reason for true Halloween fans to rejoice. The only thing that mars an otherwise flawlessly-told ripping yarn is that the text is riddled with misspellings, grammatical errors, sentences missing words, and the occasional jumbled phrasing. Mr. Finnigan needed no editor for his premise, pacing, and storytelling, but he would have benefited greatly from a proofreader.

One word that stuck out for me, as a professional cartoonist as well as a horror story fan, was the mention of a celebrated comic book hero who swings on webs and climbs up walls. One of the characters we feel for almost upon his introduction dons the red-and-blue garb of this famous superhero as his Halloween costume. His iconic outfit is then identified, over and over, and incorrectly, as "Spiderman". Any fan knows (and there are a lot of us who do), that the correct spelling is Spider-man. Without the hyphen, it comes across as the squashed version fans dread, which reads as "Spiddurmin". It seems a very small mistake and I admit I am nitpicking, but it was one of those things that each time yanked me out of the narrative while I was deeply immersed in an otherwise wonderful story.

Make no mistake, it is a wonderful story, and it is definitely worth your time. Now that you know to expect the misspellings, there is nothing to keep you from diving in and enjoying the extraordinary tale that Mr. Finngan spins. Read it this fall. Add it to your October reading list. Better yet, pass copies along to friends and fiends alike. More than a story that deserves to be read, it is one that deserves to be shared.
Profile Image for Lacy Sheridan.
Author 7 books20 followers
December 15, 2018
The premise of this book is absolutely fantastic. I was pulled in right from the start when I heard about it. I love a little gore, a little horror, a little action, and the concept of bringing some lesser-known mythology to the spotlight was really cool to me (not to mention, I'm all Irish, so I was really excited for this). The story was a fun little adventure, though certainly less scary than I would have sometimes liked and drawn out more than I felt was necessary. While it was slow to start, once things really got going I found myself wanting to keep going. I read most of this book in a day!

This book's downfall, though, comes in the writing itself. On the whole I felt this book was one that got halfway to what it could have been and then stopped. The writing becomes flat and bland often, the author has a habit of reiterating information that's already been established, and sloppy editing runs throughout. A few inconsistencies towards the end in particular pulled me out of the story. There were loose ends that I wish were tied and rules I wish were established. Overall, another draft or two of close editing to tighten things up would have pushed the book into much better territory.

If you're like me and can stand the just okay writing to enjoy a different and entertaining story on a day stuck sick in bed, and have a real need for some of that Celtic lore that gets so often overlooked, maybe give When Halloween was Green a shot. But I can't say I'll be rereading anytime soon.
36 reviews3 followers
June 20, 2025
When Halloween Was Green is a thrilling, lore-rich return to the origins of Samhain, where Halloween wasn’t fun-sized—it was fearsome. This book breathes new life into old terrors, dragging the ancient monsters of Celtic legend into modern-day America with blood-chilling results.

Keith and Benny MacCool’s haunted house attraction is fading in a world where Halloween has gone soft—more glitter than ghosts. But when real bodies start dropping and the veil between worlds tears open, the MacCools realize something ancient and angry has returned. The old protections are forgotten, the legends mocked… and now, the forgotten horrors of Irish myth are done waiting in the dark.

Fast-paced, funny, and absolutely steeped in Celtic tradition, this book blends horror, folklore, and heart. The MacCool brothers are unforgettable leads—grizzled survivors of life’s traumas who still know exactly what goes bump in the night.

Runner-Up for 2024 Indie Author Showcase Book of the Year, When Halloween Was Green is a must-read for horror fans, Halloween lovers, and anyone ready to rediscover the ancient chill behind the holiday’s original mask.
Profile Image for Nishell.
45 reviews7 followers
November 15, 2025
This book was way better than I expected it to be. The scary atmosphere hits right from the start and keeps building throughout, and there was not one moment where I felt bored. Yes, there are a few grammatical and formatting errors, but that is common with self-published books and it does not take away from the experience. I also loved the little references to Supernatural and Doctor Who. That made my inner nerd very happy.

Bernard Finnigan delivered an amazing story that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, which I believe was absolutely his goal. I will recommend this to anyone looking for a nonstop, unique, and genuinely scary read.
Profile Image for Giselle Schneider.
Author 19 books23 followers
May 6, 2019
The author craftily takes his readers on a journey through the three days of Halloween, criss-crossing along the perspectives of two characters linked to the holiday's past. Readers are left sitting at the edge of their seats, feeling as though they are part of the terrifying world of monsters and demons while everyone else around them is oblivious to the truth. There are quite a bit of humourous spots, too, that leave readers laughing despite the fear for what is to come. This will be a thrilling adventure you won't want to miss.
Profile Image for Elise.
752 reviews
November 7, 2019
I picked this up at a small Halloween store, thinking that the premise of many scary Halloween legends has roots in Irish folklore was an interesting one.
The two main characters, owners of a haunted house are targeted by the legendary Puka of Ireland because they claim descent from Finn Mac Cuill. It can take the form of your worst nightmarish fears. They are lured to a shadow realm where they can be destroyed.

The execution was not to my taste, and halfway through I could see where the plot would go, and didnt care enough about the characters to follow through to the end.
Profile Image for Karen H.
390 reviews13 followers
October 27, 2021
Loved this! I need to be reminded what the holidays we celebrate really are about. ( Hint: Halloween is not slasher villains or sparkly vampires or even the Addams and Munster families). It's something bigger than all that. This book has brought the ancient folklore and tradition into a story for today and it's wonderful. It will be joining The Halloween Tree and The Homecoming on my favorite Halloween bookshelf.
Profile Image for Chandice Parkinson .
20 reviews2 followers
October 31, 2023
2.5 For me, the good in this book was the knowledge learned about Samhain. The amount of grammatical errors and typos was abysmal and makes me wonder how it ever got published by a publishing company without the most basic editing. I mean seriously obvious errors that one read through from a middle school student could catch. The characters were so hollow. My thoughts are the author should have written this as a non fiction. I would have given it 5 stars then.
1 review
June 10, 2023
The characters were awesome! It was a great rollercoaster of scare factor and fun! A lot of great Halloween history and great descriptions of Irish Celtic spooks and monsters. It definitely delivered! Met the author at a recent comic-con and who gave me a wonderful synopsis of what to expect. I wasn’t disappointed! Thanks Bernard !
6 reviews
December 5, 2017
Amazing

I absolutely love this book and I am going to make this my yearly tradition of reading this book in October. What a refreshing view of Halloween and addition of all the Irish folklore into this amazing book.
Profile Image for Jalissa Mooney.
866 reviews4 followers
May 18, 2022
A local author I met two years ago was selling his novel at a fair and it looked interesting at the time but I still passed it up. Years later I found a copy at a bookstore and took the opportunity to read it. A good book with a history of Halloween and danger and bravery.
Profile Image for Kimberly Reed Edwards.
38 reviews
May 25, 2019
A fun way to learn about old Halloween monsters. Its might be the cleanest horror story I've ever read.
Profile Image for Marilu Coelho.
71 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2020
Scary, humorous, and a great story to read around Halloween. This author really knows a thing a or two about the holiday and clearly loves its history.
Profile Image for Kirsten Jones.
290 reviews2 followers
March 15, 2023
I read this as part of a library challenge. J needed a book by an Idaho author

Fun Halloween story if a bit long winded. Not too scary. Not really very scary at all. Could have used more editing as there were lots of mistakes.
Profile Image for Alder Blacksmith.
52 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2024
This book is definitely different than the average Halloween story. Yes, it has the typical costumes and events seen on Halloween, but the author uses those to create a humorous, action-packed, seat-gripping tale that revolves around the true meaning of Halloween. Having the story told from two point-of-views made it even better -- technically two stories in one. I give this book a round of applause.
2 reviews
October 20, 2017
Loved this book! An inside look at the inner workings of a haunted house! Great plot & so much fascinating detail on the history of Halloween! It's definitely fun to read!
1 review
November 6, 2016
Fun book

I normally don't read horror but this book was a lot of fun to read! Thank you for writing it!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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