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When the Clock Strikes 13
Tick – tock
Tick – tock
Tick – tock
Your time is running out. When the clock strikes 13, all manners of hell will break loose.
When the Clock Strikes 13 is a collection of thirteen short horror stories by some of the best horror and dark fiction authors writing today. Inside, you will find stories to frighten, shock and gnaw at your inner fears, and take you places that belong only in the dark recesses of your mind. There are monsters on these pages; some are human, some are not.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Joe Mynhardt
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells
“Open Waters” by Richard Thomas
“Memories” by John R. Little
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain
“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deady
“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman
“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason
“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe
Afterword by Steve Thompson
Tick – tock
Tick – tock
Your time is running out. When the clock strikes 13, all manners of hell will break loose.
When the Clock Strikes 13 is a collection of thirteen short horror stories by some of the best horror and dark fiction authors writing today. Inside, you will find stories to frighten, shock and gnaw at your inner fears, and take you places that belong only in the dark recesses of your mind. There are monsters on these pages; some are human, some are not.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Joe Mynhardt
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells
“Open Waters” by Richard Thomas
“Memories” by John R. Little
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain
“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deady
“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman
“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason
“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe
Afterword by Steve Thompson
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2019
54 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth W. Cain
98 books217 followersKenneth W. Cain first got the itch for storytelling during his formative years in the suburbs of Chicago, where he got to listen to his grandfather spin tales by the glow of a barrel fire. But it was a reading of Baba Yaga that grew his desire for dark fiction. Shows like The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and One Step Beyond furthered that sense of wonder for the unknown, and he’s been writing ever since.
Cain is the author of The Saga of I trilogy, United States of the Dead, the short story collections These Old Tales and Fresh Cut Tales, and the forthcoming Embers: A Collection of Dark Fiction. Writing, reading, fine art, graphic design, and Cardinals baseball are but a few of his passions. Cain now resides in Chester County, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
Cain is the author of The Saga of I trilogy, United States of the Dead, the short story collections These Old Tales and Fresh Cut Tales, and the forthcoming Embers: A Collection of Dark Fiction. Writing, reading, fine art, graphic design, and Cardinals baseball are but a few of his passions. Cain now resides in Chester County, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 13, 2019
3.5 overall. I starred my favorites.
WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13 is an anthology with an ambiguous theme. The introduction by Joe Mynhardt definitely suggests the stories were all going to be about the unluckiest number, thirteen. However, after reading several stories I couldn't find any connections. It's possible I missed the references, especially if they were small. I thought a lot of the stories dealt with the matter of "time" as a theme but then there were a few that didn't quite fit. A well-developed theme isn't important but I do think that if there is an introduction suggesting there is a theme, it should probably follow through.
Also, I hate to say this. I debated on if I should even bring it up but it feels important enough. This book cover is unappealing. I don't think it reflects the quality of the authors who contributed stories. It feels inexpensive and dated.
On to the contents!
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells - This story reads like a "new classic" ghost story. Almost like a campfire tale that can be easily remembered by the reader and told to others. It's a good "Hey, listen to this..." type of paranormal mystery. It was compelling but predictable as those kinds of stories often are.
“Open Waters” by Richard Thomas - I liked the way this story enticed the reader by starting off in the middle of the action and then flipping the script on you halfway through. Great ending.
“Memories” by John R. Little - This one had two storylines blending together and I felt disoriented by the execution. I don't think it was successful in marrying the past narrative to the present day one.
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain - I did skip this one after reading the first few paragraphs just because I don't enjoy war stories very much.
*****“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deady - I loved this story! I thought it was very compelling. I enjoyed the way Deady unpacked this one slowly and deliberately until the shocking conclusion. One of my favorites. It scared me too.
*****“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon - YES! *clapping* I loved this one. Somer did such an incredible job capturing the young man's sweet personality against the unreliable female protagonist. It was unsettling right out of the gate the way this 17-year-old girl was referring to her mom as, "mommy". I just knew something was up but I was not expecting what ended up happening. Loved the Lovecraftian influence too.
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward - I thought this story was well written enough but it came on the heels of three other stories I had read recently with a religious father/stepfather who is a closet alcoholic/abuser. I was just weary of the trope so it didn't sit well with me. I also thought the young boy protagonist's voice was too cynical/mature/advanced for his assumed age.
****“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson - This one was so fun. I enjoyed it. A satirical, humorous, and dark horror story where not even the anthology's other authors are safe!
****“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar - I loved the way Chizmar wrote his protagonist, Molly. I thought she was so cute and funny and she felt like people I know in real life. I was distracted by her the entire time--I couldn't care less about what was freaking her out and so the ending really freaked me out.
*****“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman - This is the scariest most intense story in the entire collection. I loved it! It was completely unexpected and scary--especially tucked inside an anthology with a variety of tones and styles. It really stood out.
****“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason - I enjoyed this story. I actually liked reading the narrative with the investigators the most--I have a real affinity for detective work and law enforcement when it comes to crime drama and paranormal mysteries--like x-Files. This had an X-Files vibe.
***“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White - This one scared the bejeezus outta me! I hate, hate, HATE spider stories! And the illustration was super triggering.
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe - I was a little confused as to the setting and the era of this story but I loved the characters.
WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13 is an anthology with an ambiguous theme. The introduction by Joe Mynhardt definitely suggests the stories were all going to be about the unluckiest number, thirteen. However, after reading several stories I couldn't find any connections. It's possible I missed the references, especially if they were small. I thought a lot of the stories dealt with the matter of "time" as a theme but then there were a few that didn't quite fit. A well-developed theme isn't important but I do think that if there is an introduction suggesting there is a theme, it should probably follow through.
Also, I hate to say this. I debated on if I should even bring it up but it feels important enough. This book cover is unappealing. I don't think it reflects the quality of the authors who contributed stories. It feels inexpensive and dated.
On to the contents!
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells - This story reads like a "new classic" ghost story. Almost like a campfire tale that can be easily remembered by the reader and told to others. It's a good "Hey, listen to this..." type of paranormal mystery. It was compelling but predictable as those kinds of stories often are.
“Open Waters” by Richard Thomas - I liked the way this story enticed the reader by starting off in the middle of the action and then flipping the script on you halfway through. Great ending.
“Memories” by John R. Little - This one had two storylines blending together and I felt disoriented by the execution. I don't think it was successful in marrying the past narrative to the present day one.
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain - I did skip this one after reading the first few paragraphs just because I don't enjoy war stories very much.
*****“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deady - I loved this story! I thought it was very compelling. I enjoyed the way Deady unpacked this one slowly and deliberately until the shocking conclusion. One of my favorites. It scared me too.
*****“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon - YES! *clapping* I loved this one. Somer did such an incredible job capturing the young man's sweet personality against the unreliable female protagonist. It was unsettling right out of the gate the way this 17-year-old girl was referring to her mom as, "mommy". I just knew something was up but I was not expecting what ended up happening. Loved the Lovecraftian influence too.
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward - I thought this story was well written enough but it came on the heels of three other stories I had read recently with a religious father/stepfather who is a closet alcoholic/abuser. I was just weary of the trope so it didn't sit well with me. I also thought the young boy protagonist's voice was too cynical/mature/advanced for his assumed age.
****“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson - This one was so fun. I enjoyed it. A satirical, humorous, and dark horror story where not even the anthology's other authors are safe!
****“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar - I loved the way Chizmar wrote his protagonist, Molly. I thought she was so cute and funny and she felt like people I know in real life. I was distracted by her the entire time--I couldn't care less about what was freaking her out and so the ending really freaked me out.
*****“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman - This is the scariest most intense story in the entire collection. I loved it! It was completely unexpected and scary--especially tucked inside an anthology with a variety of tones and styles. It really stood out.
****“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason - I enjoyed this story. I actually liked reading the narrative with the investigators the most--I have a real affinity for detective work and law enforcement when it comes to crime drama and paranormal mysteries--like x-Files. This had an X-Files vibe.
***“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White - This one scared the bejeezus outta me! I hate, hate, HATE spider stories! And the illustration was super triggering.
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe - I was a little confused as to the setting and the era of this story but I loved the characters.
March 27, 2020
I get asked to read, and subsequently review, a lot of Advance Reader Copies of books – and I have to say it’s a great gig (now to figure out how to get paid doing it).
So when Steve Thompson asked if I would want to read a forthcoming anthology called WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13, I immediately said, “Sure, but I’m reading another book right now, is there a deadline?” He said no, so I accepted the offer and waited for the email.
What Steve neglected to tell me was who was involved in it – and the minute I saw the TOC, I jumped right in. Look, when the editor is Kenneth W. Cain, and the introduction is by Joe Mynhardt, you know this has to be something special. But then you see names like Mark Allan Gunnells, John R. Little, Justin Woodward, James Newman, the incomparable Richard Chizmar, as well as others, all I can say is that I was like the proverbial unsupervised kid in a candy store!
Overall, it’s a well balanced mixture of ghost stories, demons, torture, redemption, revenge, dark humor, and psychological terror, all written by some of the best (and sometimes underrated) writers in the horror genre.
These folks understand that horror, true horror, doesn’t have to be the 80’s gore fest that most people “outside the circle” think of when they hear that word – horror. These folks understand how to get under your skin, and make you feel uncomfortable, even sitting in your own loving room – hold on a second, I think I just saw the closet door move (thanks Richard Chizmar).
So, without further “fanboying”, I give you my take. Unfortunately, my ARC copy only had a placer for Joe’s introduction, so I’ll be reading that when the book is released.
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells – If you are looking for a way to grab a reader by the throat, and shock the hell out of them, there aren’t many other people you could start with. Mark writes a great ghost story of revenge and redemption. A+
“Open waters” by Richard Thomas – As I always say, in every anthology there is bound to be one story that you don’t think hits the mark. Not everyone likes the black jelly beans (although I love them), and that’s OK. For me, Richard’s story is the one. I know what he was going for, showing the horror of technology and how people are wasting their lives being “plugged in”, but it just didn’t have that punch I was looking for. B
“Memories” by John R. Little – Let’s face it; there are a few people who could publish a shopping list, and I’d buy it, as well as give it a 5-star review. John is one of those people. Be that as it may, this ghost story had a very unexpected ending – and one that will make you think. A+
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain – I don’t know what to say about this one without giving much away. A platoon is in Afghanistan and encounter something horrific and inhuman; or is it actually human after all? A
“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deadly – This story reminded me a lot of the movie FALLEN with Denzel Washington. Only instead of a serial killer moving between people, it’s this Red Man, a god of justice. A
“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon – Ok, this was just creepy as hell; especially since I live in a beach city. Lysia is a teen girl with an unusual, and extremely protective, Mom. The only thing I can say is that if you have a teenage boy, and he’s prone to walking boardwalks, tell him to not talk to pretty girls that are by themselves. You’ll thank me. A
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward – While I’d love to say this is the typical “Dad dies, Mom remarries, Step-Dad hates the kids, and turns out abusive” story, it’s anything but typical – but you know the plot. Justin puts his special touch on this revenge story, and it’s not what you think. A+
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson – This is going to sound biased since he’s the one to offer the ARC, but this truly is my favorite of the lot. I found his nods to the other authors to be great “Easter Eggs”, and his dark humor is exactly my “cup of tea.” For the record (and you have to read the story since I’m not going to give anything away), I would LOVE a shot at Week 4. A+
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar – Another author from the “I’ll by whatever they write” category. I don’t know how to give a synopsis of this one without giving too much away, but suffice to say, Richard has a way of writing that just causes you to look over your shoulder as you read. A+
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman – A beautiful Father/Son bonding story. Only don’t expect this to be shown on the Hallmark channel anytime soon. I thoroughly enjoyed this story A+
“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason – Another story that just didn’t hit the mark for me. A women discovers that death cannot dissuade an abusive boyfriend from finishing what he wanted to start. B
“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White – I’m in the minority when it comes to spiders; I love them. There are two things that are not allowed to be killed in my house: crickets and spiders. I’ll catch them and release them outside (everything else is fair game for the bottom of a shoe, or the can of Raid). After reading this story, you might want to consider that same strategy; just saying, they can get even. A+
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe – This is a post-apocalyptic ghost story that I found to be an extremely slow burn, but stick with it. I don’t want to say anymore than that. A
So there you have thirteen stories. No theme, just some very talented authors doing what they do best. As always, I want to thank Steve for the opportunity to check this one out, and I will definitely be purchasing a copy when it’s released in April (if only to read Joe’s introduction, and check out the illustrations). You should too.
So when Steve Thompson asked if I would want to read a forthcoming anthology called WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13, I immediately said, “Sure, but I’m reading another book right now, is there a deadline?” He said no, so I accepted the offer and waited for the email.
What Steve neglected to tell me was who was involved in it – and the minute I saw the TOC, I jumped right in. Look, when the editor is Kenneth W. Cain, and the introduction is by Joe Mynhardt, you know this has to be something special. But then you see names like Mark Allan Gunnells, John R. Little, Justin Woodward, James Newman, the incomparable Richard Chizmar, as well as others, all I can say is that I was like the proverbial unsupervised kid in a candy store!
Overall, it’s a well balanced mixture of ghost stories, demons, torture, redemption, revenge, dark humor, and psychological terror, all written by some of the best (and sometimes underrated) writers in the horror genre.
These folks understand that horror, true horror, doesn’t have to be the 80’s gore fest that most people “outside the circle” think of when they hear that word – horror. These folks understand how to get under your skin, and make you feel uncomfortable, even sitting in your own loving room – hold on a second, I think I just saw the closet door move (thanks Richard Chizmar).
So, without further “fanboying”, I give you my take. Unfortunately, my ARC copy only had a placer for Joe’s introduction, so I’ll be reading that when the book is released.
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells – If you are looking for a way to grab a reader by the throat, and shock the hell out of them, there aren’t many other people you could start with. Mark writes a great ghost story of revenge and redemption. A+
“Open waters” by Richard Thomas – As I always say, in every anthology there is bound to be one story that you don’t think hits the mark. Not everyone likes the black jelly beans (although I love them), and that’s OK. For me, Richard’s story is the one. I know what he was going for, showing the horror of technology and how people are wasting their lives being “plugged in”, but it just didn’t have that punch I was looking for. B
“Memories” by John R. Little – Let’s face it; there are a few people who could publish a shopping list, and I’d buy it, as well as give it a 5-star review. John is one of those people. Be that as it may, this ghost story had a very unexpected ending – and one that will make you think. A+
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain – I don’t know what to say about this one without giving much away. A platoon is in Afghanistan and encounter something horrific and inhuman; or is it actually human after all? A
“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deadly – This story reminded me a lot of the movie FALLEN with Denzel Washington. Only instead of a serial killer moving between people, it’s this Red Man, a god of justice. A
“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon – Ok, this was just creepy as hell; especially since I live in a beach city. Lysia is a teen girl with an unusual, and extremely protective, Mom. The only thing I can say is that if you have a teenage boy, and he’s prone to walking boardwalks, tell him to not talk to pretty girls that are by themselves. You’ll thank me. A
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward – While I’d love to say this is the typical “Dad dies, Mom remarries, Step-Dad hates the kids, and turns out abusive” story, it’s anything but typical – but you know the plot. Justin puts his special touch on this revenge story, and it’s not what you think. A+
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson – This is going to sound biased since he’s the one to offer the ARC, but this truly is my favorite of the lot. I found his nods to the other authors to be great “Easter Eggs”, and his dark humor is exactly my “cup of tea.” For the record (and you have to read the story since I’m not going to give anything away), I would LOVE a shot at Week 4. A+
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar – Another author from the “I’ll by whatever they write” category. I don’t know how to give a synopsis of this one without giving too much away, but suffice to say, Richard has a way of writing that just causes you to look over your shoulder as you read. A+
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman – A beautiful Father/Son bonding story. Only don’t expect this to be shown on the Hallmark channel anytime soon. I thoroughly enjoyed this story A+
“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason – Another story that just didn’t hit the mark for me. A women discovers that death cannot dissuade an abusive boyfriend from finishing what he wanted to start. B
“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White – I’m in the minority when it comes to spiders; I love them. There are two things that are not allowed to be killed in my house: crickets and spiders. I’ll catch them and release them outside (everything else is fair game for the bottom of a shoe, or the can of Raid). After reading this story, you might want to consider that same strategy; just saying, they can get even. A+
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe – This is a post-apocalyptic ghost story that I found to be an extremely slow burn, but stick with it. I don’t want to say anymore than that. A
So there you have thirteen stories. No theme, just some very talented authors doing what they do best. As always, I want to thank Steve for the opportunity to check this one out, and I will definitely be purchasing a copy when it’s released in April (if only to read Joe’s introduction, and check out the illustrations). You should too.
May 9, 2019
This collection of short stories was very fun to read. All of the tales were awesome in their own way, and I shall list 2 that I liked. 2 that I really liked, and 2 that I loved along with my favorite of the bunch.
LIKED
1)The Boy in the Pond: Really good ghost story that touches on one of the main reasons the dead can't rest. If it has a down-side, it's that I found it fairly predictable, but that's just me. Got a "Good Son" vibe from this.
2)Mommy's Girl: Being that the description of this sea side town and boardwalk sounds like it could be OC Maryland, or a south NJ shore town, I'm all in. This story could've sucked and I would've liked it just based on it's location. But the story didn't suck and it shows what a mother will do to "protect" her daughter. Got a "Mama" vibe from it
REALLY LIKED
1)Detrition of War: This was really, really good. I'm not going into details because I don't want to give anything away, but this one stuck with me for a while.." Apocalypse Now" vibe
2) Open Waters: In an age where people starve to death playing Farmville and the number one reason for divorce is Fortnight this story is really fitting and I'm surprised this isn't based off of actual events. Got a "Matrix" feel to it
LOVED( I despise anyone who beats women or kids so these 2 made this list based on pure KARMA)
1) Bear: I have a black lab/chow mix who has been my "Best friend" for almost 13 years. I know if someone hurt me or my kids there is NOTHING that would stop her from protecting us. Got kinda/sorta "Christine" vibe from this
2)Taking Up Carpentry: Another good story about the real monsters some of us may encounter in our lives . While I can't think of the name, this reminded me of a short story Bentley Little wrote that is in The Collection,(Really hard to find BTW)
MY FAVORITE
Memories: I admit it, after the first couple of pages I was really starting to hate the main character because I was sure, he was going to turn out to be one of those "real life monsters". From this I learned you really can't judge a book by it's cover and thanks to the ending I'll never look at "Back to the Future " the same again.
LIKED
1)The Boy in the Pond: Really good ghost story that touches on one of the main reasons the dead can't rest. If it has a down-side, it's that I found it fairly predictable, but that's just me. Got a "Good Son" vibe from this.
2)Mommy's Girl: Being that the description of this sea side town and boardwalk sounds like it could be OC Maryland, or a south NJ shore town, I'm all in. This story could've sucked and I would've liked it just based on it's location. But the story didn't suck and it shows what a mother will do to "protect" her daughter. Got a "Mama" vibe from it
REALLY LIKED
1)Detrition of War: This was really, really good. I'm not going into details because I don't want to give anything away, but this one stuck with me for a while.." Apocalypse Now" vibe
2) Open Waters: In an age where people starve to death playing Farmville and the number one reason for divorce is Fortnight this story is really fitting and I'm surprised this isn't based off of actual events. Got a "Matrix" feel to it
LOVED( I despise anyone who beats women or kids so these 2 made this list based on pure KARMA)
1) Bear: I have a black lab/chow mix who has been my "Best friend" for almost 13 years. I know if someone hurt me or my kids there is NOTHING that would stop her from protecting us. Got kinda/sorta "Christine" vibe from this
2)Taking Up Carpentry: Another good story about the real monsters some of us may encounter in our lives . While I can't think of the name, this reminded me of a short story Bentley Little wrote that is in The Collection,(Really hard to find BTW)
MY FAVORITE
Memories: I admit it, after the first couple of pages I was really starting to hate the main character because I was sure, he was going to turn out to be one of those "real life monsters". From this I learned you really can't judge a book by it's cover and thanks to the ending I'll never look at "Back to the Future " the same again.
May 17, 2019
I just finished the other day and I’m still absorbing. This was fantastic! It was dark and gory and funny, everything all swirled about perfectly. I love the way the stories were different but still on the same level. Wow they really got to me! I was actually pretty freaked out by more than a few lol. Love it! Great job assembling the authors and amazing job to all with the stories, I can’t come up with one I didn’t enjoy. I think there is a little something in here for everyone and you can feel the fun they had writing it. Also gave me some new authors to check out!
July 4, 2019
Enjoyed all the stories immensely. Glad to see some of my favorite authors included.
May 1, 2019
Short stories are snacks for the brain, tasty little treats that tantalize.
I have said before that it is difficult to review anthologies for a number of reasons. First and foremost, at least in my mind, is it's hard to make a point about a story without doing spoilers. I don't do spoilers. The second problem with reviewing an anthology is multiple authors. Of course, that problem goes away when all the authors tell good stories and the editor does a great job of editing.
When reading an anthology, it is always a good idea to start with the Introduction. In the case of WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13, the introductory notes give a pretty good synopsis of the reasons so many suffer from triskaidekaphobia. All warnings aside, the intro is balanced by the good side of 13 as well.
Here is a list of the stories contained in the book with a couple of words that reflect my thoughts upon reading them:
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells - a ghostly bit of mystery
“Open Waters” by Richard Thomas - cerebral reality
“Memories” by John R. Little - some decisions are more difficult than others
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain - someone once said, "war is hell."
“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deady - the retribution of blood and circuses
“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon - mommy deadest
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward - gimme some of that ole time religion
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson - anthology authors beware
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar - the last shift
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman - father & son
“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason - woman's best friiend
“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White - if creepy, crawlies make you itch…-
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe - the aftermath
It is a rare thing to find an anthology as well-crafted as this one. Along with the horror in the stories, careful reading will expose a playful side to the editor and authors. Alongside the grim and gruesome, a little spark of whimsey will attack your brain. It might be subtle at first, but as you go from tale to tale, the fireworks may just ignite.
As a rule, I am not a huge fan of short stories. For the most part, I like my fiction long and involved. WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13 is as satisfying a read as many a novel that I have read. Kudos to all the writers, and to an editor who had a vision and did a great job bringing it to fruition.
I have said before that it is difficult to review anthologies for a number of reasons. First and foremost, at least in my mind, is it's hard to make a point about a story without doing spoilers. I don't do spoilers. The second problem with reviewing an anthology is multiple authors. Of course, that problem goes away when all the authors tell good stories and the editor does a great job of editing.
When reading an anthology, it is always a good idea to start with the Introduction. In the case of WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13, the introductory notes give a pretty good synopsis of the reasons so many suffer from triskaidekaphobia. All warnings aside, the intro is balanced by the good side of 13 as well.
Here is a list of the stories contained in the book with a couple of words that reflect my thoughts upon reading them:
“The Boy in the Pond” by Mark Allan Gunnells - a ghostly bit of mystery
“Open Waters” by Richard Thomas - cerebral reality
“Memories” by John R. Little - some decisions are more difficult than others
“Detrition of War” by Kenneth W. Cain - someone once said, "war is hell."
“Comes the Red Man” by Tom Deady - the retribution of blood and circuses
“Mommy’s Girl” by Somer Canon - mommy deadest
“Taking Up Carpentry” by Justin M. Woodward - gimme some of that ole time religion
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson - anthology authors beware
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar - the last shift
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” by James Newman - father & son
“Bear” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason - woman's best friiend
“When Arachnids Attack” by Sheri White - if creepy, crawlies make you itch…-
“A Song Above” by Glenn Rolfe - the aftermath
It is a rare thing to find an anthology as well-crafted as this one. Along with the horror in the stories, careful reading will expose a playful side to the editor and authors. Alongside the grim and gruesome, a little spark of whimsey will attack your brain. It might be subtle at first, but as you go from tale to tale, the fireworks may just ignite.
As a rule, I am not a huge fan of short stories. For the most part, I like my fiction long and involved. WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 13 is as satisfying a read as many a novel that I have read. Kudos to all the writers, and to an editor who had a vision and did a great job bringing it to fruition.
August 30, 2024
Ok, I definitely think I prefer anthologies that have a theme…
Initially I thought this collection would be about the #13- nope. Maybe about time? Mehhh somewhat but not consistently. Unlucky occurrences? Still nada…
I guess I either just didn’t get the underlying related theme, or there isn’t one, which then makes the title and cover seem a bit random then.
While there are some heavy hitters names who contributed, I only found a few of the stories really popped out at me.
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson was fantastic. A hunting club for humans that takes an ironic twist. I loved how the story was conveyed via online chat.
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar follows a senior citizen as she watches the nightly news and discovers something terrible is going on. This one gave me absolute chills as I was reading it at night in bed. It felt way too relatable to the setting of Molly’s tale.
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” took a turn to the dark side as a serial killer initiates another. I enjoyed seeing the time jump and letters to the police creating a lead up to quite the surprise.
Initially I thought this collection would be about the #13- nope. Maybe about time? Mehhh somewhat but not consistently. Unlucky occurrences? Still nada…
I guess I either just didn’t get the underlying related theme, or there isn’t one, which then makes the title and cover seem a bit random then.
While there are some heavy hitters names who contributed, I only found a few of the stories really popped out at me.
“Kill Point Club” by Steve Thompson was fantastic. A hunting club for humans that takes an ironic twist. I loved how the story was conveyed via online chat.
“Calm Down Time” by Richard Chizmar follows a senior citizen as she watches the nightly news and discovers something terrible is going on. This one gave me absolute chills as I was reading it at night in bed. It felt way too relatable to the setting of Molly’s tale.
“Carrion: My Wayward Son” took a turn to the dark side as a serial killer initiates another. I enjoyed seeing the time jump and letters to the police creating a lead up to quite the surprise.
April 14, 2019
Review copy
When the Clock Strikes 13 is an invitation-only anthology. Steve Thompson is a fan of horror and as such he wanted to publish an anthology featuring stories by his favorite authors. The result is a treat for all fans of the genre.
The Boy In the Pond by Mark Allen Gunnells - A paranormal investigator is hired by a family to rid them of their son's spirit trapped below the ice in their pond. A brutally haunting tale and a superb opening for this collection.
Open Waters by Richard Thomas - A beautifully written story of a future where we take solace where we can.
Memories by John R. Little - I loved this telling of a family curse which leads to tragic consequences.
Detrition of War by Kenneth W. Cain - Nothing like a good old "creature" story.
Comes the Red Man by Tom Deady - Tom is one of my favorite writers and this is another fine story from this Bram Stoker Award-winning author. A holy man is haunted by those who perished in a fire which consumed the tent in which he was conducting a service.
Mommy's Girl by Somer Canon - Somer is the real deal and this is a wonderful introduction to her writing. A local beach kid meets a boy on the boardwalk during a cloud burst and things take a decidedly weird turn.
Taking Up Carpentry by Justin M. Woodward - An abusive step-father gets his due in a rather unique way. "'Doug isn't a bad man, he's just tired a lot, and you shouldn't test him when he's tired.' On a cold night in January, my sister, Anna, found out just how tired Doug could get,"
Kill Point Club by Steve Thompson - What a fun story. About a service where you can accumulate, purchase and redeem points to allow you to kill without repercussions, as long as you follow the rules.
Calm Down Time by Richard Chizmar - Molly works the late shift and needs to wind down when she gets home. Watching the news she learns of a killer on the loose in her neighborhood. Uh, oh.
Carrion: My Wayward Son by James Newman - And the award for best title ever goes to...James Newman. This is the story of a serial killer who calls himself, THE CARRION KING. "I'm not crazy. Some men like to fish, some men like to build things, some men like to work on cars but there's only one thing I like to do and that is KILL!!!"
Bear by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason - I'm a big fan of the Sisters of Slaughter and here they give us a very fine ghost story set in the desert of Arizona during monsoon season.
When Arachnids Attack by Sheri White - Why does it have to be spiders. This wonderfully horrific tale actually gave me chills.
A Song Above by Glenn Rolfe - A post-apocalyptic tale of underground dwellers making an attempt to go topside after years below.
This anthology features many of my favorite authors and those I had not read before had some of the best stories in the collection. I've already read a number of good anthologies in 2019 and this is one of the best.
Whole-heartedly recommended.
Available for pre-order, When the Clock Strikes 13, will be published for the Kindle by In Your Face Books on March 31, 2019. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
When the Clock Strikes 13 is an invitation-only anthology. Steve Thompson is a fan of horror and as such he wanted to publish an anthology featuring stories by his favorite authors. The result is a treat for all fans of the genre.
The Boy In the Pond by Mark Allen Gunnells - A paranormal investigator is hired by a family to rid them of their son's spirit trapped below the ice in their pond. A brutally haunting tale and a superb opening for this collection.
Open Waters by Richard Thomas - A beautifully written story of a future where we take solace where we can.
Memories by John R. Little - I loved this telling of a family curse which leads to tragic consequences.
Detrition of War by Kenneth W. Cain - Nothing like a good old "creature" story.
Comes the Red Man by Tom Deady - Tom is one of my favorite writers and this is another fine story from this Bram Stoker Award-winning author. A holy man is haunted by those who perished in a fire which consumed the tent in which he was conducting a service.
Mommy's Girl by Somer Canon - Somer is the real deal and this is a wonderful introduction to her writing. A local beach kid meets a boy on the boardwalk during a cloud burst and things take a decidedly weird turn.
Taking Up Carpentry by Justin M. Woodward - An abusive step-father gets his due in a rather unique way. "'Doug isn't a bad man, he's just tired a lot, and you shouldn't test him when he's tired.' On a cold night in January, my sister, Anna, found out just how tired Doug could get,"
Kill Point Club by Steve Thompson - What a fun story. About a service where you can accumulate, purchase and redeem points to allow you to kill without repercussions, as long as you follow the rules.
Calm Down Time by Richard Chizmar - Molly works the late shift and needs to wind down when she gets home. Watching the news she learns of a killer on the loose in her neighborhood. Uh, oh.
Carrion: My Wayward Son by James Newman - And the award for best title ever goes to...James Newman. This is the story of a serial killer who calls himself, THE CARRION KING. "I'm not crazy. Some men like to fish, some men like to build things, some men like to work on cars but there's only one thing I like to do and that is KILL!!!"
Bear by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason - I'm a big fan of the Sisters of Slaughter and here they give us a very fine ghost story set in the desert of Arizona during monsoon season.
When Arachnids Attack by Sheri White - Why does it have to be spiders. This wonderfully horrific tale actually gave me chills.
A Song Above by Glenn Rolfe - A post-apocalyptic tale of underground dwellers making an attempt to go topside after years below.
This anthology features many of my favorite authors and those I had not read before had some of the best stories in the collection. I've already read a number of good anthologies in 2019 and this is one of the best.
Whole-heartedly recommended.
Available for pre-order, When the Clock Strikes 13, will be published for the Kindle by In Your Face Books on March 31, 2019. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
June 7, 2019
I had an absolute blast reading this throwback horror anthology. The stories remind me a bit of Creepshow/Freddy's Nightmare/Tales From the Crypt, but with the twist that some top name horror authors went all out to wipe off some of the cheese and actually deliver something terrifying(now there is still cheese here, it's just not so over the top that it feels goofy). Spiders attack, demons appear, and murderers do their thing in these 13 tales that explore all corners of horror.
Kenneth W. Cain picked out some of his favorite authors to show us what it means to be under the unlucky number of 13. A physic has to help a family deal with a ghost in the ice that seems to be warning them about a murderer in the house. In the future we get to earn points to kill people, but be careful because someone might just have enough points to kill you. It took me a moment to put together the unlucky factor, but the more I think about it the more I feel like I'm an idiot for not realizing it. But, it's okay, because I love this concept. We don't always want to see the hero win, or at least we don't want to predict what "win" means for them. So, while not each story doesn't end in a twist, it does end in a way you might not have expected.
As I made my way through the anthology I quickly picked up on the fun each author seemed to be having. They explored strange and wonderful topics, asking what would happen if we could live in a virtual world or what happens if you could see the past. One story even goes so far as having spiders coordinate attacks on a couple that killed one of their brethren. If you have a sharp eye you'll notice that a few of the stories have some Easter eggs in them. I had a pretty good laugh when certain names appeared on a kill list or as teachers a student doesn't like.
I haven't seen that many people talk about this anthology which is a shame. It is a fun creepy book that would be perfect to kill a weekend with. Each author delivers a top notch campfire story sure to have you checking shadowy corners and under your bed. Definitely go out and find this if you are looking for a good scare.
Kenneth W. Cain picked out some of his favorite authors to show us what it means to be under the unlucky number of 13. A physic has to help a family deal with a ghost in the ice that seems to be warning them about a murderer in the house. In the future we get to earn points to kill people, but be careful because someone might just have enough points to kill you. It took me a moment to put together the unlucky factor, but the more I think about it the more I feel like I'm an idiot for not realizing it. But, it's okay, because I love this concept. We don't always want to see the hero win, or at least we don't want to predict what "win" means for them. So, while not each story doesn't end in a twist, it does end in a way you might not have expected.
As I made my way through the anthology I quickly picked up on the fun each author seemed to be having. They explored strange and wonderful topics, asking what would happen if we could live in a virtual world or what happens if you could see the past. One story even goes so far as having spiders coordinate attacks on a couple that killed one of their brethren. If you have a sharp eye you'll notice that a few of the stories have some Easter eggs in them. I had a pretty good laugh when certain names appeared on a kill list or as teachers a student doesn't like.
I haven't seen that many people talk about this anthology which is a shame. It is a fun creepy book that would be perfect to kill a weekend with. Each author delivers a top notch campfire story sure to have you checking shadowy corners and under your bed. Definitely go out and find this if you are looking for a good scare.
April 13, 2019
Loved this collection of 13 dark tales that explore supernatural and every day horrors. Bravo to publisher Steve Thompson for gathering together a diverse group of authors to deliver an edge of your seat, never a dull moment thrill ride with scares, general creepiness, and even a few chuckles. Steve’s contribution, “Kill Point Club” even pits two of the anthology‘s authors against each other, all in good fun. Definitely recommend this one. Not a dud in the bunch.
April 13, 2019
every story in this anthology is good to great! i have a lot of new authors to follow now.
April 24, 2019
Proper review to come.
April 7, 2019
Great collection of stories
Reading the introduction got me hooked ! I enjoyed all the stories . Found some new authors that am excited to read more of their stories . Thank you Steve for putting this together.
Reading the introduction got me hooked ! I enjoyed all the stories . Found some new authors that am excited to read more of their stories . Thank you Steve for putting this together.
December 16, 2019
Love Horror? Read this book!! You will be pleasantly surprised.
The stories I like best are the ones I can't predict the ending of...this book delivers on that,in spades! (Pun intended LOL) Usually, I only find 2 or 3 really good stories per anthology but in this book,all were very well written.(IMHO) Being ADHD if it's not interesting immediately -- I lose focus but I read EVERY word!!! Get it...it's worth the read.👻👹💀👺
The stories I like best are the ones I can't predict the ending of...this book delivers on that,in spades! (Pun intended LOL) Usually, I only find 2 or 3 really good stories per anthology but in this book,all were very well written.(IMHO) Being ADHD if it's not interesting immediately -- I lose focus but I read EVERY word!!! Get it...it's worth the read.👻👹💀👺
May 21, 2019
I am not a “short story” fan but this was fun and entertaining. Rounding up for the entertainment factor.
THE BOY IN THE POND ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Perfect campfire story
OPEN WATERS ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gamers....
MEMORIES ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Talk about life changing
DETRITION OF WAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Was it real?
COMES THE RED MAN ⭐️⭐️
Predictable
MOMMY’S GIRL ⭐️⭐️
Runaway inland... problem solved
TAKING UP CARPENTRY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Half Karma half sad
CALM DOWN TIME ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How did you not see that coming?
CARRION MY WAYWARD SON ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Like father, like son
BEAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good dog (My dog’s name is Bear also)
WHEN ARACHNIDS ATTACK ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eeeeew just eeew!
A SONG ABOVE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strangely interesting
THE BOY IN THE POND ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Perfect campfire story
OPEN WATERS ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gamers....
MEMORIES ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Talk about life changing
DETRITION OF WAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Was it real?
COMES THE RED MAN ⭐️⭐️
Predictable
MOMMY’S GIRL ⭐️⭐️
Runaway inland... problem solved
TAKING UP CARPENTRY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Half Karma half sad
CALM DOWN TIME ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How did you not see that coming?
CARRION MY WAYWARD SON ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Like father, like son
BEAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good dog (My dog’s name is Bear also)
WHEN ARACHNIDS ATTACK ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eeeeew just eeew!
A SONG ABOVE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strangely interesting
August 7, 2024
So apparently I had already devoured this previously, but short smack brought it to the top again for me.
This book was packed with such good stories it's really hard to even say omg this one.
Kill point club I realized was one of my favorites from my first read because, dark humor? My exact brand of humor, and a horror story, sold.
But also Taking up carpentry, what the fuck man?
I loved it lol
Check this out if you can
This book was packed with such good stories it's really hard to even say omg this one.
Kill point club I realized was one of my favorites from my first read because, dark humor? My exact brand of humor, and a horror story, sold.
But also Taking up carpentry, what the fuck man?
I loved it lol
Check this out if you can
August 17, 2020
!3 spooky, scary, nerve wracking, creepy stories by some very good horror writers. I also happen to be friends with one of the authors, Tom Deady who is a Bram Stoker Award winner. Several stories in this book really creep me out, so if your looking for a good creepy, scary, what's coming next read, this is the book.
July 23, 2020
I liked this
As a horror fan, I like to go and read with an open mind so I chose this book. This book was simple to read and you’ll appreciate this book for that.
As a horror fan, I like to go and read with an open mind so I chose this book. This book was simple to read and you’ll appreciate this book for that.
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