Collected Halloween Horror Shorts: Trick 'r Treat

by Kevin J. Kennedy (Editor, Contributor), Christina Bergling (Contributor), James Matthew Byers (Contributor)

If you love horror, Halloween is probably your favourite time of the year. Well… It’s ours, too.

A mixture of authors from Collected Christmas Horror Shorts and Collected Easter Horror Shorts have come back together, and invited a few friends, to make this Halloween an extra special one.

Lock your door, dim your lights, add some pumpkin spice to whatever you are drinking and light your jack-o’-lanterns. This will be a Halloween you will never forget.

Table of Contents

John R. Little - The Halloween Phantoms
Lisa Morton - Pumpkin Rex
Richard Chizmar - Mister Parker
Christopher Motz - The Halloween Playground
Kevin J. Kennedy - Halloweenland
Mark Cassell - A Story of Amber
Peter Oliver Wonder - Dressed For Success
Christina Bergling - Black Widow
Stuart Keane - Hollowed Be Thy
Andrew Lennon - Girlfriend
Briana Robertson - Trick Turned Treat
James Matthew Byers - Jenny Greenteeth
J.C. Michael - The First Shot
Mark Lukens - The Coffin Man
Suzanne Fox - The Devils Fruit
Steven Stacy - Don't Fear the Reaper.

Genres: Horror, Halloween, Anthologies, Short Stories, Fiction, Holiday

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2017

About the author

Kevin J. Kennedy is a horror author, editor, and anthologist. He is the owner of KJK Publishing and runs the bestselling 'The Horror Collection' series. He is the author of Halloween Land, The Clown and Nothing is Real.

He lives in the heart of Scotland with his beautiful wife, three cats, Carlito, Ariel and Luna, and a Pomchi called Orko. He can be found on Facebook if you want to chat with him.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great collection of Halloween horror short stories written by different horror authors!

There are quite a few stories in this book which all of them were very good, but I do have favorites, so these are the ones I especially liked.

Black Widow by Christina Bergling

Dane is always looking for a good time and being in college it is always party hardy for him. Dane ends up going to a bar where it is filled with patrons in Halloween outfits. He ends up meeting a woman dressed as a spider and they end up at her house. What happens with Dane and the spider woman gave me creepy crawlies all night after reading that story!

Girlfriend by Andrew Lennon

Simon and Susan were an item until they split up. Simon doesn't want anything to do with Susan yet she is persistent about wanting to get back with him so she is constantly ringing his phone and driving him crazy. Simon ends up talking to her finally, but he still blows her off to the point where something happens to Susan making him regret his decision. But things are not always what they seem and Simon gets a rude awakening as everyone knows "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"!

Halloween Playground by Christopher Motz

Marty seems like a nice enough guy, but looks can be deceiving as he really has serial killer tendencies with his wife wrapped up in plastic in his car. Marty really goes off his rocker when things get out of hand with his neighbors. Just because he looks like a nice guy doesn't mean that he is a nice guy.

Trick Turned Treat by Briana Robertson

Chicory does not like what she sees in the mirror and the only way to fix it is to pursue a man. A neighbor has moved in across the street and when she spies on him from her window she definitely likes what she sees. August feels eyes on him and when he catches his neighbor peeking at him from her window their eyes lock. From that moment forward August cannot get her out of his head and he becomes entranced with her. They become involved quickly, but then it all spirals out of control as August finds out Chicory wants more from him than a romp in the bed and it becomes an act of survival for August.

I have new horror authors to pursue as some of the authors in this book I have never heard of before. I really enjoyed all the stories and they all have a great spook factor for Halloween. Giving this one four "spooky" stars!

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've never read a Halloween book so close to Halloween and I enjoyed it a lot. I'll be going to the cinema this Saturday, ALL NIGHT. To watch 4 new Horror-movies. This book has me in the mood already. I'm a huge horror fan, the spooky kind, the wtf-kind and especially the gory kind. It's all in this book and I highly recommend this book to read during Halloween times, for all the horror-fans out there.

A longer review can be found at Bite Into books

I had so much fun binge-reading these Halloween stories and to read something in one of my favorite genres again. I don't read horror a lot and I do remember now why I love it so much. I highly recommend this book as a Halloween read, to just be creeped out, grossed out and have your own little WTF moment.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Oct. 1

Review: Collected Easter Horror Shorts (Kevin Kennedy and Various)

I've totally enjoyed the first two anthologies in this series COLLECTED CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORTS and COLLECTED EASTER HORROR SHORTS) so I was poised to expect a delightfully horrific romp through the ramifications of horror lovers' favourite holiday. Needless to say, once again, Mr. Kennedy has collated an excellent set of tales to inspire and frighten all of us who love horror well delivered, thoughtful, and scary. I'd like to especially note Kevin Kennedy' s tale of "HalloweenIand," a "traveling" carnival with Lovecraftian tendencies (just read it--you'll see) which we all need to hope never travels to our locale [if it ever visits your town, lock up your pets and your kids and stay home, safe].

Meanwhile, settle in for a rockin' October with a chilled spine as you peruse these tales. Remember, horror writers and storytellers were delivering the scares long before the invention of horror films. So.why not spend your October with books?

[Debbi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for the season!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A horrifically fun, top-notch Halloween anthology! This is Kevin J. Kennedy's 3rd holiday themed anthology series and I sure hope he continues it on, he only accepts the highest quality stories from the finest crop of new writers, so I always know I'll be pleased and thank you'd when I pick one up.
First he tinseled and lit our asses with his festive Christmas collection, then he had us hare-raised and hopped-up on his Easter shorts, and now it's only apt that we get this BOOeautiful and darkly HELLarious Halloween assortment.
Tricks and treats that are bittersweet and hard to beat, just look at all that deadmeat ~ ok oookkk I'll stop. Jeeez...tough crowd..

Cutting back on the quantity but never skimping out on the quality, he goes from 20 something stories down to 16 scary tales in this volume, yet it's still over 300 pages.
With potential for a 17th terrifying entry if 3rd time resident foreward guy Nev Murray cared to elaborate on "the troubles" of Northern Ireland that plagued his childhood.
I'm so intrigued!

And at only 16 tales, there is a good chance that this review of mine may not succumb to article status length this time.
Well, a fair chance anyway.

As always, the page counts are approximate. It's not that I can't count adequately enough, but depending on format and device, results may vary.
I'm most likely right though.... :P

Black Widow ~ Christina Bergling 28pgs
College is a time for self discovery and growth but the only thing Dane cares to evolve is his libido and every Halloween he strives to love and leave a new slutty-costumed-up conquest.
He's got a bucket list he's trying to work his way through but wonders if there are any untapped get-ups left for his disposal. A random party invite sounds promiscuously promising. Oh the tangled webs to be wove..
I loathed that Dane character and loved what the author put him through. I've enjoyed all of Christina's short stories in these collections, she's a luminously bright new writer.

Mister Parker ~ Richard Chizmar 15pgs
Benjamin Parker is a middle school teacher, he's also a bit of a loner and leads a very solitary, yet content, life. He detests Halloween due to a miserable and rotten childhood. He normally just locks himself away in his library and reads every Halloween but this year, this year...something is off.
This story was so sad, the build up was perfect for it's short length, it kept me guessing about what it was really all about, leading to an ending I did NOT see coming.
It had a very non-fiction vibe to it which can be the most horrific of stories.
The first I've read from this author and reading his bio at the end, he co-wrote Gwendy's Button Box with Stephen King. Wow!

Girlfriend ~ Andrew Lennon 19pgs
Simon is taking a lazy day, he was just dumped by his girlfriend Susan but is already looking towards the greener grassed bright side of it all. Ironically, he's being harassed via mobile by said ex-girlfriend, begging for a 2nd chance. Baffled and annoyed, yet also kind of amused, he does his best to just let-it-all-hang-out and enjoy his new found bachelorhood. Until things take a plunge to the shocking and stiflingly surreal. "Happy Halloween!"
I've always enjoyed Lennon's imaginative writing style. I've read quite a bit of his work and he's terrific.

Coffin Man ~ Mark Lukens 12pgs
Doting boyfriend Dennis accompanies his grieving girlfriend Tara to her hometown on Halloween, because her grandmother has died. They do not traditionally celebrate the fun holiday in that town but they do still decorate with an odd array of ornamentation. For preservation or...preparation, dunno but it is a very uninviting little town with an eerie Halloween legend.
The 2nd short I've read from Lukens, he says so much with so few pages. I see he has some highly rated/reviewed novel length books out there too. Read the synopsis for Devil's Island ~ HOLY!

The Devil's Fruit ~ Suzanne Fox 18pgs
Apple bobbing for bedpost notches.....?? It's a real game, for Josh and Sam anyway, who have the point system and handicaps all worked out in their favor. It could have been and most likely would have been a sure thing if only they....well, let's just say...did their own shopping; how bout them apples. But hey, either way it's still destined to be one killer paaaarty!
Suzanne has a lot of class, and sass. Her stories are thrilling little page turners. She fondles...errr I mean dabbles in erotic fiction too. Her story in the X-mas collection....wheeew hot Hot HOT.

The Halloween Playground ~ Christopher Motz 20pgs
Marty is a drunk, the belligerent and intolerant kind that is annoyed by anyone and everyone, which only makes him drink more. So, it's all their fault, obviously. Looking to make some changes, not within himself so much as at the expense of others, he's planning the Halloween yard display to end all Halloween yard displays. He's tired of being a background bit player, he's gonna be the star attraction, talk of the town.
Oh man what a wicked wicked tale!
And Motz's Pine Lakes should be required reading for any lover of the creepy and captivating edge-of-the-bed vivid dream inducing page turner. To quote myself in that review "Mind blowingly EXCELLENT!!"

Jenny Greentooth ~ James Matthew Byers 6pgs
What a catchy and extremely well versed poem about a witch going about her own witchy business. James writes such elaborate, hilarious, and demented poetry, his jelly bean one from the Easter collection was amazing!

Don't Fear the Reaper ~ Steven Stacy 53pgs
This story was a love letter homage to John Carpenter's Halloween, it read like a sister companion piece. Michael Myers is an iconic badass fictional character with many fans, so it's not outside the realm to believe that a diehard fan (who is unbalanced and deranged enough) would turn copycat. Amber is tired of the wait, she's ready for the 3rd act reveal and her friends really should be taking this all a bit more seriously. Pfft teenagers...
Steven Stacy is a name I remember vividly from the Easter collection. Not only was his story, The Echoes of the Bunny-Man, fantastic but it was made even more powerful when tied in with his bio. Two excellent stories that keep a similar tone; the strong and empowered female heroine who's had too much heartache in her young life but still refuses to be the victim and the overall page length with many characters and much development ~ and that's where the similarities end. A popcorn flick of a good time read!

A Story of Amber ~ Mark Cassell 23pgs
Brothers Chuck and Dillion were farm kids who experienced an unexplainable freakish event in their fields one Halloween. They are all grown up now and have unfortunately drifted apart. You've heard of gemstones having healing properties, well, what if the opposite was true...
Oh that antagonistic Amber, a beauty to be wary of as it unifies and evades.
So damn unique, I had NO idea what was going on here I just knew that I was digging it.
Mark is a very highly regarded indie author with quite a few highly regarded works out there. I have only read two short stories of his, so far, but I can totally see why. His writing is like alternate (yet not bizarro) dimension kind of stuff, multi layered with precise attention to detail. I really need to check out more from him. His Shadow Fabric Mythos series is....yep, you guessed it, very highly regarded.

Trick Turned Treat ~ Briana Robertson 36pgs
Incredibly vain and over-empowered...yet insecure...Chicory, fears aging. She has a sure fire skin care regimen recipe for that though. And lucky for her, ingredients aren't too terribly hard to come by for a woman of her cold and calculating feminine wiles.
So brutal, so...unnerving. I think I'm in mourning.
I went absolutely baby-bat-shit crazy for her Easter antho tale Baby Blues, it was so real and raw, I very much related. I could actually relate to certain elements of this one as well.
Briana is in my head, anxious to find out what we're thinking next.

Pumpkin Rex ~ Lisa Morton 12pgs
High Schooler Devin loves Halloween and has saved up to buy the best, most traditional and distinguished, costume he could manage. His friend Maxx talks him into going to a rave, not overly enthused about it but hoping he'll at least meet a cool girl, turns out it's morphing into the rave of the millennia and some old traditions never die.
Lisa is a bonafide Halloween enthusiast expert, she has a nonfiction book out called Trick or Treat that explores the origins and pop culture fusion of this feared and revered, whimsically macabre holiday.

The First Shot ~ J.C. Michael 17pgs
Jealousy, scorn, and indifference lead a young woman to play a spiteful prank on Halloween. Encouraged by the voice of her racist and bigoted (aaand very deceased) grandfather, she watches from afar to see how her little show will play out.
It wasn't until the end that I saw Oh Wow, this is a prequel to the grippingly awesome You Only Get One Shot novella that J.C. co-wrote with Kevin! So of course I had to go back and read it again with that in mind. YES, great story and I loved learning a bit of backstory for that big bad bitch. I hope he writes some more tales, adding even more layers to her mysterious and cold blooded character.

Hallowed Be Thy ~ Stuart Keane 48pgs
Venturing back to the ominous Lake Whisper (that other S.K. has Castle Rock, this S.K. has Lake Whisper) yet again, we met sweet natured Jack. He's stoked cause he's got a hot date with a gorgeous gal named Emma. It's the sweetest Halloween treat he could possibly imagine....buuut this is Lake Whisper where salty and sour are the more predominant essences.
I've read almost everything by Stuart Keane, he is a brilliant writer with a BIG future ahead of him.

Dressed For Success ~ Peter Oliver Wonder 11pgs
Troy finds a mysterious and untouched make-up kit tossed by a trash can at a local novelty stop. He's oddly drawn to it and enjoys the different characters he can create and perform. You know how you feel like a different person when in costume, just unabashedly uninhibited and game for anything?? Well, Troy surpasses that infantile feeling when he dons his custom made costume. Playing dress-up is so out-of-this-world euphoric.
Peter writes sharp and fun little stories. He's been in all 3 anthologies and all 3 of his tales were stand-out memorable. He also has a new novella out called Puckered that he co-wrote with one of my very favorite writers, David Owain Hughes. I must read that soon!

The Halloween Phantoms ~ John R. Little 22pgs
Forlorn and damn near despondent Ellen is just going through the motions while still trying to take good care of her daughter. Halloween holds no fun or excitement for her and she's especially not in the mood for any neighborhood boo games.
Oooh this was such a terrific and highly emotional story, very sad and disturbing. This is one that sticks with you...

Halloweenland ~ Kevin J. Kennedy 30pgs
Zak and Wendy are a couple of 13 year old long time best friends that are on the cusp of a burgeoning and quite adorable little bout of puppy love. A Halloween carnival is coming to town and they are beyond excited, it's very much their favorite time of year. This ain't your family fun time kind of operation though; the carnies are weird, games are rigged, prizes are scant, and the stakes are high!
An action adventure coming of age tale with a dollop of pumpkin spice. Yep, it was a blast to read
and Kevin says it's going to be a whole carnival series with different authors putting their spin on it. How interesting, I can see this going in many different directions.

That's all of them and I did try really hard to pick a top 3 but even with my standard inflation, I still couldn't manage to narrow it down to single digits. They are all pretty damn fantastic and top 3 worthy!

Ok Kevin, sooo....I have a proposition for you. :D :D
If you continue to do these 3 holidays collections yearly (inviting back your usual suspects as well as introducing us to new 1st time offenders), then I will continue to read and review them. However, and this is a dealbreaker, you must also add in a Mother's Day and a Father's Day anthology ~ that'd really make for some killer family fun time stories!
Yea...cause I can't really think of any other UK/US crossover holiday's, well, unless....hmmm do you guys celebrate Thanksgiving and Independence day??
Perfect, so, it's settled. A cyber-shake (...down) deal, that is contractually binding. ;)
You made the right decision.
Cheerios!

Oh and completely off topic but still quite pertinent, it seems Cadbury creme eggs are not just for Easter anymore!! Screme Eggs are all the rage aaas my willpower whimpers, I'm just not strong enough to resist. Boo. :/

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. Though I enjoyed all of the stories, I had a few favorites.

Black Widow- When Dane meets an elaborately costumed girl at a bar on Halloween, is there more to her than meets the eye?
The Coffin Man- What horrific secrets are hidden within the small town that forbids the celebration of Halloween?
Don't Fear the Reaper- This story may have a familiar ring to it, but reader, don't be fooled. It has some deliciously Carpenterish thrills and surprises, if you catch my drift.
Pumpkin Rex- What surprises await a lonely teenager attending a downtown Halloween rave?
The Halloween Phantoms- A small town's yearly October rituals give a new horrifying meaning to the words "trick or treat."
Halloweenland- Regarding the new Halloween carnival, stay away from the funhouse, if you know what's good for you. And be sure to avoid the pumpkin headed clowns:-).

This was a solid, fun, Halloweenish collection. I highly recommend it.

[YVONNE Van Gaasbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Kennedy is one of the best for finding all the stories that will scare the bejesus out of you! There is a story in this collection for every fan of Halloween - everyone can find a favorite to read aloud at any gathering this October 31st.

My favorite was Halloweenland, with the promise of more to come in a series.

Thank you, Kevin, for giving your readers another winning collection.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a deliciously creepy and chilling collection of shorts that will change the way you think of Halloween. I have read some of the authors before and the new authors also scared the crap out of me
We have stories about a spider costume or is, a pumpkin mask made from important papers that has deadly consequences, Halloween obsessions that go awry, demons, a copycat killer and I could go on but I recommend you read this book yourself if you love the horror genre and all things Halloween

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collected Halloween Horror Shorts: Trick 'r Treat is a wonderful collection of short stories. Some of the stories are bizarre, some are brutal, some are sad, some are terrifying; this collection has something for any horror fan!

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.

My thoughts:
I usually struggle with short story collections. But in this case, I just couldn't put the book down! I was totally hooked and I absolutely loved most of the stories! Out of sixteen stories, there were only two that weren't really for me. The rest were thrilling in different ways.

Gosh, what an awesome collection! I can't wait to check out another collection soon!

And how cool is that cover!? It was designed by Lisa Vasquez.

Here are my rating breakdowns for each story:

Forward - Nev Murray
This is one of the best forwards I have ever read! I was already excited to dive in to this collection, but the forward made me even more excited! The first few sentences had me chuckling! And I totally agree with Nev, I believe Halloween is the most wonderful time of the year! I loved the slight personal touches as well as the compliments to the authors within the collection.

Christina Bergling - Black Widow - 4.5/5
Man, this one totally creeped me out! What a great story! The author totally nailed the college-bro persona.

Richard Chizmar - Mister Parker 5/5
Woah, this one was sad! Poor Mister Parker. I hate pranks!

Andrew Lennon - Girlfriend
Ah yes, the crazy ex! Always a terrifying story! Don’t drink and drive folks! 4.5/5

Mark Lukens - The Coffin Man 5/5
So spooky! I loved the idea of this story. There’s something about stories and not being able to look out windows that’s always hit for me!

Suzanne Fox - The Devils Fruit 4/5
What a fun twist on the typical Halloween game, bobbing for apples!

Christopher Motz - The Halloween Playground 4/5
Woah! This was quite the dark story!

James Matthew Byers - Jenny Greenteeth 1/5
I’m just not a poetry fan…

Steven Stacy - Don't Fear the Reaper 2/5
I didn’t care for this one. Too much teenage girl drama. I also wasn’t really following the story at the start. Fans of the Halloween movies may have better luck with this story though.
This passage was pretty funny though:
“Yeah… hopefully. I think I’d be in a Stephen King book, myself. Really dark, fucked-up shit.”
“I think you’d be in some random short story, if you were that lucky,” Emma giggled again.

Mark Cassell - A Story of Amber 3/5
This one was bizarre and brutal!

Briana Robertson - Trick Turned Treat 0/5
Not a story for me.

Lisa Morton - Pumpkin Rex 5/5
I loved this one! What a fun tale! This needs to be a movie!!

J.C. Michael - The First Shot 4/5
While reading this one, I felt that it was setting something up. Sure enough; there’s a note at the end of the story saying that it’s a prequel for “You Only Get One Shot.” Clever!

Stuart Keane - Hollowed Be Thy 2/5
Another one that’s just not for me with the language.

Peter Oliver Wonder - Dressed For Success 3/5
The idea behind this story was so neat!! I wish it could have been just slightly longer to give us a better taste of the plot.

John R. Little - The Halloween Phantoms 3/5
Phew, another wicked sad one! But what an interesting plot.

Kevin J. Kennedy - Halloweenland 5/5
I’m a total sucker for any story that is set in an amusement park! This one was so awesome! The characters were lovely, the action was thrilling, and the plot was interesting! This one is going to be part of a series of tales, and I cannot wait to read more!


My final thoughts:
This is definitely a collection that I will be coming back to from time to time to reread! It was such a spooky collection! I can't wait to re-read it around Halloween!

[thebonebreaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

16 horror tales - perfect for this time of year!

The stand-out stories within this collection, for me, are as follows:

Christina Bergling's (horrifying!) "Black Widow"
Mark Luken's "The Coffin Man" (has a Get Out feel to it)
Lisa Morton's "Pumpkin Rex"
John R. Little's "The Halloween Phantoms"
and Kevin J. Kennedy's "HalloweenLand" (this one reminded me of Richard Laymon's The Traveling Vampire Show)

Another stand-out story is Andrew Lennon's "Girlfriend". This one has a story-within-a-story (Intruder) woven within which elevates it to a 5-Skull story.

Other great stories included are:

Richard Chizmar's "Mister Parker" (this one has a good twist)
Suzanne Fox's "The Devil's Fruit"
James Matthew Byer's (excellent poem) "Jenny Greenteeth"
Briana Robertson's (erotic) "Trick Turned Treat"
Stuart Keene's "Hollowed Be Thy"
and Peter Oliver Wonder's "Dressed for Success"

The other four stories are good as well, I just liked the above stories more.

[Noelle Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As All Hallow’s Eve approaches, everyone is in search of the perfect book to read at Halloween.
Halloween Horror Shorts has creepy short stories that are different to the norm with the common thread of a Halloween time frame. Halloween is my favourite time of year so I was really excited when Kevin contacted me to review this book.

Best Read
On All Hallow’s Eve by the glow of pumpkins.



About the Book
If you love horror, Halloween is probably your favourite time of the year. Well… It’s ours, too.

A mixture of authors from Collected Christmas Horror Shorts and Collected Easter Horror Shorts have come back together, and invited a few friends, to make this Halloween an extra special one.

Lock your door, dim your lights, add some pumpkin spice to whatever you are drinking and light your jack-o’-lanterns. This will be a Halloween you will never forget.

Table of Contents

John R. Little – The Halloween Phantoms
Lisa Morton – Pumpkin Rex
Richard Chizmar – Mister Parker
Christopher Motz – The Halloween Playground
Kevin J. Kennedy – Halloweenland
Mark Cassell – A Story of Amber
Peter Oliver Wonder – Dressed For Success
Christina Bergling – Black Widow
Stuart Keane – Hollowed Be Thy
Andrew Lennon – Girlfriend
Briana Robertson – Trick Turned Treat
James Matthew Byers – Jenny Greenteeth
J.C. Michael – The First Shot
Mark Lukens – The Coffin Man
Suzanne Fox – The Devils Fruit
Steven Stacy – Don’t Fear the Reaper

My Thoughts on the Book
I knew from the opening that I would love this book, I’m obsessed with Halloween. This collection surprised me because the stories made me feel a range of emotions – some made me laugh at gruesome images, others made me feel sad for the ill-fated characters while more thrilled me and chilled me.

The Halloween Phantoms
A new widow doesn’t keep the neighbours happy, not realising the danger she is in.

Pumpkin Rex
Devin has an unexpected and deadly Halloween transformation.

Mister Parker
This is a sad tale of a twisted Halloween joke.

The Halloween Playground
The bloodiest and most surprising piece. Marty goes all out for killer Halloween decorations.

Halloweenland
My absolute favourite of the bunch. Two teenage friends attend a spectacular Halloween carnival event. Mesmerising and terrifying.

A Story of Amber
A dark, evocative tale of an evil Halloween mask passed through generations.

Dressed For Success
Troy discovers the power of makeup, full of delightfully dark imagery.

Black Widow
A womanising college student has a Halloween night like no other with a very satisfying end.

Hollowed Be Thy
A blood-splattered tale of the date from hell for young Jack.

Girlfriend
Simon breaks up with Susan, but this Halloween she has other ideas.

Trick Turned Treat
A seductive woman seduces her young, virile neighbour. An erotic and gruesome story.

Jenny Greenteeth
A poetic, bewitching piece with hints of dark fairy tales.

The First Shot
A young girl with a killer aim goes hunting for revenge with a shotgun.

The Coffin Man
Dennis visits Kara’s home town where trick or treat is banned and hears rumours of The Coffin Man.

The Devils Fruit
Josh gets a taste of the Devils Fruit at a Halloween party in this gory offering.

Don’t Fear the Reaper
I really enjoyed this reimagining of Halloween. It has all the tension and scares of the original classic movie.

To conclude, this is perfect for readers looking for a new Halloween read with bite sized pieces of horror fiction.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of horror stories. Some are very gruesome, while others have a sick and twisted sense of humor. I don’t scare easily but some of these tales made my hair stand on end. I liked most of these reads but my favorites were: The Coffin Man, by Mark Lukens, which takes place in a creepy town with bizarre traditions; Pumpkin Rex, by Lisa Morton, a nicely cinematic short read; The Halloween Phantoms, by John R. Little, which made me afraid of my neighbors; and Halloweenland, by Kevin J. Kennedy, a truly scary ride. Most stories feature well written, if not always likable characters, and it’s a nice compendium of different sensitivities and viewpoints. I must say that there was one story that I didn’t like at all, but it may have been a personal preference. All in all, 16 short tales worth reading.
I received a free copy from the author, but I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, Kevin J. Kennedy!

[Adriane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Horror Collection

In any short story collections usually a roll of the dice and most of the stories are middling with one or 2 good and a few bad. This collection is not your average collection. All of the stories were good with a few climbing to stellar quality. I highly recommend this for fans of horror and fans of really well done short fiction. An extra interesting bit for me was the fact that several authors are British and the stories reflect that. I just thought halloween was mostly super big in the U.S. so that part was interesting to me.

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite the set to get creeped out on to get ready for Halloween. I can’t give any clues to any of the stories, but this anthology is pretty good mix. A few of my favorites were, Halloweenland by Kevin J. Kennedy, Black Widow by Christina Bergling and The First Shot by J.C. Michael. If you are looking at scary anthologies, this one is worth the fun. I wouldn’t read most of these on a dark, cold, foggy night though, right before you go to bed. Reviewed by Cyrene

[Justyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 16 stories in this anthology focus on Halloween, and it’s part of a similar series for Easter and Christmas stories by the same editor.

“Black Widow” by Christina Bergling
A frat boy out for sex on Halloween meets a girl who appears to be dressed as a spider. This was pretty nasty and visceral which I enjoyed, yet the frat boy protagonist felt unlikable and a bit one-dimensional and not complex enough to care about. 3/5

“Mister Parker” by Richard Chizmar
A middle school teacher suffers a Halloween prank reminiscent of his childhood. I found the character interesting, but the telling sections of his background felt like they could’ve been incorporated into the story in a more seamless way. 3/5

“Girlfriend” by Andrew Lennon
An ex-girlfriend keeps calling and her lover ignores her only for him to be haunted by her after her death. I thought the concept was classic, but the fact the death happened in the middle of the story (and that there was a cheesy horror story within it) took away from the chilling ending. 3/5

“The Coffin Man” by Mark Lukins
A couple returns to the village where the girlfriend grew up, and on Halloween she warns her boyfriend of the Coffin Man. While I liked the lore of the Coffin Man and the twist ending, I felt the boyfriend character seemed like a typical, idiotic horror character making terrible decisions. 3/5

“The Devil’s Fruit” by Suzanne Fox
A game of bobbing for apples leads a man to become the devil. This was an interesting concept, but once again I found the protagonist already unlikable, so by the time the horror element happened, it was difficult to care about the character and the tragedy which befell him. 3/5

“The Halloween Playground” by Christopher Motz
A man who happens to be a killer decides to create a Halloween display. Unlike the other stories, this one seemed less polished, and over the top. First of all, I didn’t understand the protagonist’s motivations, was he a sociopath, or did he kill out of fits of rage, or was he planning on a Halloween attraction. It seemed the author was unsure and mushed all these elements together to the point the character’s motivation made little sense other than sensationalistic gore. 2/5

“Jenny Greenteeth” by James Matthew Byers
A Halloween narrative poem tells the story of the title character witch. Since I don’t understand or enjoy poetry, I won’t rate this piece.

“Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Steven Stacy
In homage to the classic movie Halloween, a girl has to face the man who almost killed her. As amusing as this was, I felt too close and on the nose to the movie. I also had issues with the lack of scene breaks to indicate POV shifts. 3/5

“A Story of Amber” by Mark Cassell
A boy’s brother mysteriously dies after their grandfather tells them a story about amber stones. This was a bit too speculative for my tastes. 2/5

“Trick Turned Treat” by Briana Robertson
A witch has her eyes on a new guy who moves in the neighborhood. This was an interesting idea for a witch, though the erotica style was a bit graphic. 3/5

“Pumpkin Rex” by Lisa Morton
A teenager goes to a Halloween rave with his cool new pumpkin mask. I thought the concept was pretty intriguing and would appeal to hardcore Halloween fans. 4/5

“The First Shot” by J.C. Michael
A sharpshooting girl sets up a trap for her classmates. I thought this was an interesting idea, and apparently it’s a prequel to a longer work, though the ending felt rushed. 3/5

“Hollow Be Thy” by Stewart Keane
A man meets a woman at a bookshop, but is unaware of her homicidal nature. I was captivated by this story for the most part until the reveal and exposition dump which ruined the story, though the last lines were well done. 4/5

“Dressed for Success” by Peter Oliver Wonder
A boy who finds an odd makeup kit uses it for Halloween. This was an interesting concept, but the structure and plot felt underdeveloped. 1/5

“The Halloween Phantoms” by John R. Little
A woman gets a note on her door from the Halloween Phantoms, but she neglects the town tradition and suffers the price. I liked the concept and buildup of dread, but the ending seemed way too rushed. 3/5

“Halloweenland” by Kevin J. Kennedy
A Halloween carnival comes to town, but it isn’t what it appears to be. Reminiscent of Bradbury, I enjoyed this story (and would be interested in seeing the other related carnival stories), the two friends and the action and tension—a good close to this anthology. 4/5

Like any anthology stories are hits and misses depending on one’s preferences, but most of these pieces felt average or underwhelming. I’ve read my share of Halloween anthologies, and this felt like the writing could be better edited and polished. While Halloween fans may find some entertainment here, there are better anthologies celebrating the holiday. 2.9/5 stars

[Johnny Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little anthology of all styles suited and booted for Halloween. A few real gems here as well.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories were quite good!!

The majority of these stories were really good, some actually had me shivering! A few were gross, but in a good way; most were frightening. If you're looking for something to read in the bathroom or something to read before bed, this is the book for you!!

[D.E. Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Kennedy has become a new master of the macabre! These stories of horror and doom are not for those allergic to gore because each story has more than its share! These short stories are more than appropriate for the season or any time you are looking for a good scare! I suggest you pick up a copy and read it only during the daytime!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick reads in this collection

I enjoy reading anthologies like this. The stories are long enough to pull you in and get you going, but short enough to finish during work breaks! This was a great book for work! These tales took me away from the office...unfortunately I had to go back😢. ALL of these stories had me hooked, wanting more. Some fell short on the ending though, hence only 4 stars. I would still definitely recommend this book!

[James Klabunde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Halloween favorite story for everyone

I did not give this book five stars because not all the stories I felt deserved that rating. This book gives you a good sample of different styles that can make a good horror short story. Everyone will find a different story that will be their favourite and perhaps one that they did not like at all but there will be more likes than dislikes. Recommended.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read 5 stories from this collection with my bookclub and the spider story fucked me uppppp. Really good variety of authors with their own style and twist to Halloween.

[Jameson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read three stories and I’m basing my review on those. Obviously if I’m giving up on the book, I’d don’t love these three.

Halloween Phantoms - not bad, just lacking creepiness.

Halloween Land - fun idea, and I swear I’ve read this plot before. Except instead of a funhouse the teens went through dimensions via one of those rides where you sit in a car and it drives through a haunted house. And we’re chased by one crazy clown monster. This story felt like a draft. And indeed it looks like it’s been developed into a novella.

Don’t Fear the Reaper - fun idea, it it was so busy hewing too close to the source material that its story and characters were neglected.

I may or may not go back to this one, since a few of the other titles sounded fun.

[Nia Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightfully creepy collection of short stories, which I conveniently got to read over Halloween then totally forget to review until just now.

A lot of these stories follow familiar campfire style tropes, which is just fine with me - there was enough of a spin on them to make them original.

I can't say that all of the stories in this collection were winners for me, but the majority really were so I consider the book well worth a read. There's a combination of supernatural and just human horror stories here, so something for every taste as long as you like to have the crap scared out of you!

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic anthology of the best Halloween Horror stories. Blood, guts and of course zombies will get your blood coursing through your veins. Kevin J Kennedy has gathered stories for Halloween or any time you want to be scared!

[Julie Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broadening my horizons

I tend to read full length novels, but have enjoyed every one of these short stories and fully intend to be on the lookout for others like these but also to look for other works by the authors within.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of Halloween shorts that gave me the chills! Nicely creepy stories with twists and turns. Not to long and not to short. A good mix of different types of scares. Nice a fast read. Recommend to others!

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

One great story by Lisa Morton is supported by three or four average stories. However the bulk of the collection just don't hit the mark.