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Bone Snow
When the snowstorm falls and the power fails, Leo Newman’s humble store acts as shelter
for a desperate group of people, all trapped there waiting for the dawn.
As tensions rise among the teenage kids, neighbors, street thugs and an undercover cop,
Leo barely has time to consider the most harmless and innocent ones. The strangers in his
basement – the young girl and her baby.
From the folk tales of Japanese myths, something insatiable has come to stalk the modern
world. The freezing snow rising inside Leo’s store is far hungrier and deadlier than anything
out in the dark.
for a desperate group of people, all trapped there waiting for the dawn.
As tensions rise among the teenage kids, neighbors, street thugs and an undercover cop,
Leo barely has time to consider the most harmless and innocent ones. The strangers in his
basement – the young girl and her baby.
From the folk tales of Japanese myths, something insatiable has come to stalk the modern
world. The freezing snow rising inside Leo’s store is far hungrier and deadlier than anything
out in the dark.
- GenresHorror
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2019
15 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
David Haynes
26 books213 followersWhen 12 year-old David Haynes picked up a battered copy of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, he never looked back.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 6, 2025
I really loved this story as the pace was perfect and there was lots of dread feelings!
Small backstory:
Leo Newman runs a small store that ends up being a shelter for a rag-tag bunch of people during a snow storm. One of the people is a woman and her baby which she eventually ends up down in the basement as she would rather be alone than be with any of the other customers.
What Leo and the store customers do not realize is the woman is not what she seems and when snow starts drifting into the basement should have been a warning that something was not right.
That is about all I can hand out on a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a great book with lots of trepidation and a spooky atmosphere. I have read other books by author, David Haynes, and each one always seems to give me tension and suspense. Chills and thrills abound in this book along with some interesting characters with a heavy dose of folklore added for spice and flavor.
There were quite a few twists and turns along with some bloodshed mixed into the story which kept me entertained and kept me speeding along at a fast clip! Another great book by this author! Giving this book five "Spooky Folk Legend" stars!
Small backstory:
Leo Newman runs a small store that ends up being a shelter for a rag-tag bunch of people during a snow storm. One of the people is a woman and her baby which she eventually ends up down in the basement as she would rather be alone than be with any of the other customers.
What Leo and the store customers do not realize is the woman is not what she seems and when snow starts drifting into the basement should have been a warning that something was not right.
That is about all I can hand out on a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a great book with lots of trepidation and a spooky atmosphere. I have read other books by author, David Haynes, and each one always seems to give me tension and suspense. Chills and thrills abound in this book along with some interesting characters with a heavy dose of folklore added for spice and flavor.
There were quite a few twists and turns along with some bloodshed mixed into the story which kept me entertained and kept me speeding along at a fast clip! Another great book by this author! Giving this book five "Spooky Folk Legend" stars!
July 10, 2021
This was a really good story, though tinged with sadness and a good healthy swig of vengeance.
When HA had this voted in I had no idea what to expect, but I loved it.
A retired boxer trying to make ends meet at his convenience store, teenagers, snow, demons, Yakuza, regular people, crime, Japanese folklore, and bags of chips are effortlessly blended in to a story that haunts you in many ways.
Go into this cold! It’s so good! I’m a new fan.
When HA had this voted in I had no idea what to expect, but I loved it.
A retired boxer trying to make ends meet at his convenience store, teenagers, snow, demons, Yakuza, regular people, crime, Japanese folklore, and bags of chips are effortlessly blended in to a story that haunts you in many ways.
Go into this cold! It’s so good! I’m a new fan.
September 17, 2020
3.5 stars
David Haynes takes a Japanese folktale and (successfully) drops it in our modern day. Combine that with being trapped in a store during a snow storm, and you have one intense read! I didn't care much for any of the characters but i was eager to find out the folktale part. I suffer from a little bit of claustrophobia so being trapped in the store really worked for me.
David Haynes takes a Japanese folktale and (successfully) drops it in our modern day. Combine that with being trapped in a store during a snow storm, and you have one intense read! I didn't care much for any of the characters but i was eager to find out the folktale part. I suffer from a little bit of claustrophobia so being trapped in the store really worked for me.
January 23, 2020
Effective and creepy
This is the first book I have read by this author and I was impressed by the vivid and intriguing story telling. It was good to have a terrifying entity from another country's mythos.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I was impressed by the vivid and intriguing story telling. It was good to have a terrifying entity from another country's mythos.
September 8, 2020
This book was pretty good! I was intrigued by the story imbedded in the plot but at times it detracted to me from the main plot. A lot of backstory and explaining had to be done to make it work. Overall though it was engaging and creepy. First book I’ve read by this author but I’d be interested in reading some more.
November 27, 2019
In a down-at-heel area in an American town, where gang culture is rife, a power failure in a snow storm traps a group of people together in a failing store. One of them, a vulnerable-seeming young woman with her baby, is not who she seems.
I found this a really claustrophobic story. There was no way anyone could escape from the others, trapped as they were by the elements and the failure of the store’s electric security shutters. There’s a creeping feeling that things are going bad. People lose their tempers and don’t understand why they feel like this. People die – horribly. I always enjoy the author’s books and it’s often the element of ancient myth that pulls me in tight. This one did. A really creepy chiller of a read.
I found this a really claustrophobic story. There was no way anyone could escape from the others, trapped as they were by the elements and the failure of the store’s electric security shutters. There’s a creeping feeling that things are going bad. People lose their tempers and don’t understand why they feel like this. People die – horribly. I always enjoy the author’s books and it’s often the element of ancient myth that pulls me in tight. This one did. A really creepy chiller of a read.
December 22, 2019
Another grand cold story from this author. A mix of people get stuck in a convenience store in mid America overnight during a power cut in a blizzard. You just know it's going to end in tears - or worse.
I love this author and never want to read the synopsis before starting one of his books. It's much more rewarding reading without even a hint of what might be ahead.
I love this author and never want to read the synopsis before starting one of his books. It's much more rewarding reading without even a hint of what might be ahead.
January 11, 2020
Gripping read
Once I started reading Bone Snow I had to finish it . Great story , great involvement of characters . Perfect for a cold dark night . Just make sure on a snowy night you don't look out your window ...The snow hag might be looking for food for her hungry baby .
Once I started reading Bone Snow I had to finish it . Great story , great involvement of characters . Perfect for a cold dark night . Just make sure on a snowy night you don't look out your window ...The snow hag might be looking for food for her hungry baby .
December 30, 2022
Wow, this was a bit brutal! David Haynes is one of my current favorite horror authors. He can write a superb horror with great characters, original plots and unpredictable outcomes.
This is the most harrowing of his books I have read so far. Featuring the Snow Hag, a mythological spirit woman from Japanese folk law. David goes into great detail of how the Snow Hag was made, originally a beautiful, innocent, young lady she fell into the path of a hideous monster who beat her, repeatedly tortured and raped her. The vivid, graphic details of this horrible time is mind-blowing. I was cringing and felt absolutely devastated for this poor young lady. A brutal read but necessary to explain how she went from one form to another.
The rest of the story is about Leo and his store. I love all the characters, their dynamics and how the author manages to paint vivid imagery. I love how he constructs the world around the people in such a way that you can see it all clearly.
A bad snow storm comes in and a group of colourful characters get shut in together. It's not ideal for any of them but surely they can get through the night? The the power goes out, the shutters come down and the fun begins. They're in for a very long, very cold, night.
This is the most harrowing of his books I have read so far. Featuring the Snow Hag, a mythological spirit woman from Japanese folk law. David goes into great detail of how the Snow Hag was made, originally a beautiful, innocent, young lady she fell into the path of a hideous monster who beat her, repeatedly tortured and raped her. The vivid, graphic details of this horrible time is mind-blowing. I was cringing and felt absolutely devastated for this poor young lady. A brutal read but necessary to explain how she went from one form to another.
The rest of the story is about Leo and his store. I love all the characters, their dynamics and how the author manages to paint vivid imagery. I love how he constructs the world around the people in such a way that you can see it all clearly.
A bad snow storm comes in and a group of colourful characters get shut in together. It's not ideal for any of them but surely they can get through the night? The the power goes out, the shutters come down and the fun begins. They're in for a very long, very cold, night.
January 20, 2021
Impressive!
Wow, what have I just read? An ancient Japanese tale of snow demons being resurrected in 21st century America. A female of the species out to seek revenge on her equally demonic former lover. Gang wars, people trafficking, drug dealing, all thrown in for good measure. This was a unique story that took modern day gangland culture and, seamlessly, merged it with ancient Japanese folk (horror) tales. Well recommended!
Wow, what have I just read? An ancient Japanese tale of snow demons being resurrected in 21st century America. A female of the species out to seek revenge on her equally demonic former lover. Gang wars, people trafficking, drug dealing, all thrown in for good measure. This was a unique story that took modern day gangland culture and, seamlessly, merged it with ancient Japanese folk (horror) tales. Well recommended!
February 24, 2020
A great start (and probably 30-40%) but then it loses some of the atmosphere which is a shame. A sympathetic main character you can really root for is a plus. Overall though, I found it a bit too early Koontz and so can't go higher than 3 stars.
February 29, 2020
Another great story.
Loved this creepy tale and the mythology that it included. Very scary story that will definitely keep you up at night. A perfect read for snowy, winter days. Haynes does it again!
Loved this creepy tale and the mythology that it included. Very scary story that will definitely keep you up at night. A perfect read for snowy, winter days. Haynes does it again!
January 19, 2023
Good read
Wow read it in two days and I'm not one for reading. This book hooks you from the first page to the last.
Wow read it in two days and I'm not one for reading. This book hooks you from the first page to the last.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews