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From Twisted Roots
The most wholesome families have the darkest secrets. Most little girls don’t dream of growing up and spending their days surrounded by human blood. My sister was not most little girls.
Inside you'll experience intimate first hand accounts of modern day murders, kidnappings, and violent revenge. Other stories are heart-warming with whimsical mysteries, gothic fairy tales, and supernatural monstrosities.
Inside you'll experience intimate first hand accounts of modern day murders, kidnappings, and violent revenge. Other stories are heart-warming with whimsical mysteries, gothic fairy tales, and supernatural monstrosities.
294 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2018
76 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
S.H. Cooper
19 books135 followersS.H. Cooper is a Florida based, multi-genre author with a focus on horror and fantasy. Her titles include the Victorian gothic novella, INHERITING HER GHOSTS, the cosmic horror novella, THE FESTERING ONES, and the YA fantasy novel, THE KNIGHT'S DAUGHTER, in addition to three short story collections and the horror comedy podcast, Calling Darkness. She is also a regular contributor to the award winning anthology series, The NoSleep Podcast. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, pets, and a cup of Earl Grey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 9, 2018
Oh my god I *loved* these stories.m If you're on the fense about them like I was at first, the few you can read in the sample can give you a good idea of what's coming. SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! Also The Little Old Lady with her Magic????? GOALS
June 3, 2018
Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].
‘From Twisted Roots: Thriller, Horror, and Mystery Short Stories’ by S.H. Cooper
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on May 14, 2018
Read with Kindle Unlimited Subscription
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle | $12.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
From twisted roots comes poisoned fruit, and even the most wholesome families have their dark secrets.
Inside you'll experience intimate first hand accounts of modern day murders, kidnappings, and violent revenge. Other stories are heartwarming with whimsical mysteries, gothic fairy tales, and supernatural monstrosities. Nothing is as it seems, nothing is safe, and anything is possible as you embark upon these thrilling tales to uncover the truth.
MY REVIEW:
Aptly titled, this book is a delightfully twisted collection of short horror stories. Right from the start, Cooper draws you into her world and keeps you there. You never know what you’re going to get from one story to the next, but you know you’re going to enjoy the ride.
This collection includes the stories:
“Fran and Jock”
As a young girl, Sadie is gifted a talking teddy bear from each of her grandfathers. Each bear plays a recording of her grandfather saying, “I love you, Sadie”. They became treasured items in her household, especially after her grandfather’s passed away. But, as all kids do, Sadie grew up and lost interest in the toys. When she moves out, she leaves them at home with her parents.
Eventually, Sadie’s parents ask her to house-sit while they go on a trip. Glad to do it, she returns home and settles into her old bedroom full of memories. And her talking bears.
-- This is a fun story with a charming, unexpected ending.
“The Signs Were All There”
A doctor who has a family history of experiencing death omens gets one about her daughter from a young patient. Not one to take something like that lightly, she frantically scrambles to get home to her daughter with terrible consequences.
-- I really liked the atmosphere of this story. Cooper does a great job of making the reader feel her panic and fear. The pacing is perfect and not a word is wasted.
“As Long As There Are Children”
There’s rumored to be a carnival exclusively for children deep in the woods. Of course, this proves irresistible to Bill and his friends. Bill reluctantly brings his little brother, Noah, along unknowing they are both about to get the fright of their lives.
-- I don’t know what it is, but I have always been a fan of creepy carnival/amusement park stories. This one has a very Stephen King feel to it, and I enjoyed it very much.
“Her Last Call”
Catarina is the cousin everyone loves to hate. She’s snotty and mean and just generally a not-great person, so when the main character’s mom insists Catarina come to stay for a week, she knows she’s in for the weekend from hell. When Catarina receives a phone call from a girl she’s bullied at school, things quickly spiral out of control.
-- Who doesn’t like a story in which the bullied get revenge on their tormentor? This one is downright creepy.
“The December Tapes”
Libby Helmer gets abducted on her way home from school, and for the next several years, her family receives a package containing an audiotape of Libby speaking to them. Eventually, the tapes break Libby’s mother, and she refuses to listen.
-- The plot of this story is original and gripping. Child abduction alone is a terrifying scenario, but to be tortured over and over again by the captor adds a whole new level of horror.
“Smidge”
Audrey and Connor discover food missing from their house and realize their son, Jamie, has been stealing it. He says he’s been feeding “Smidge” beneath the house, and Smidge has a growing appetite.
-- This story is so fun! If you’ve read my reviews before, you know I absolutely love a good monster story, and this is one of the good ones. I particularly like how vague Cooper leaves Smidge. I hate when we are “shown” the monster in too much detail. It’s so much creepier to me when we are able to imagine it on our own.
“The Ringing in My Ears”
An anesthesiologist suddenly starts hearing a ringing in his ears after his daughter is attacked.
-- This is one of those stories in which the ending makes the story. It’s unexpected and bizarrely satisfying.
“Through the Peephole”
Elaine and Reg move into a new home, and Reg decides to install one of those doorbell cameras to keep Elaine safe. Especially while he’s away on business trips. One night, after he’s left for one of these trips, someone rings Elaine’s doorbell. Using the camera, she sees her husband on the porch demanding to be let in, but something is very, very off.
-- There’s something inherently creepy about surveillance cameras, baby monitor cameras, etc. You never know what you’re going to see on the other end. This story does a lovely job conveying that scenario.
“Death’s Choice”
What would you do if you had to choose whose life is more important? More worth living? That’s the situation the man in this story is faced with.
-- This wasn’t my favorite story in the collection, but it was still a good read.
“The Quiet Neighbor”
When a brother and sister move into a new house, they were warned about their weird, mean neighbor. At first, they avoid him and his anger, but after the brother’s fun new birthday present is snatched by the neighbor after it flies into his yard, the siblings decide to retrieve it. What they find in his house is beyond their wildest dreams.
-- Oooh, I really enjoyed this story. It’s scary but strangely heartwarming in what the neighbor is willing to do for his wife.
“Going to Grandma’s”
Sheila’s grandma lives in a big, beautiful, Victorian home. But Sheila refuses to ever go there again after she spent a night in it after her own home burned down. Family secrets can be haunting.
-- Dang, I love a good ghost story! I especially liked how what’s in the house seems to have changed over time. You don’t often see that in a ghost tale.
“The Aftermath of Murder”
What would you do if you discovered there’s a murderer in your family? That’s what happens to the Graham family in this story, and it changes thing forever.
-- This is an interesting, compelling take on a terrible situation.
“The Gift That Keeps On Giving”
Sisters Jackie and Leah are best friends, despite Leah’s often bizarre behavior. She has always been fascinated by blood. That fascination turns frightening when Jackie buys Leah a gift cursed by blood.
-- I liked this story. There are a lot of tales out there about cursed items, but Cooper adds her own, unique, spin with this.
“Ring Once”
Home alone, a teenage girl is frightened when the telephone keeps ringing a single time over and over again. When her parents come home, the truth of the situation is revealed.
-- This is an absolutely lovely story. It hit me right in the feels, as the kids say.
“Airsekui”
When dozens of women go missing, everyone wants to know who’s taken them, but the truth is stranger than they expected.
-- All I’ll say is Cooper does creature tales well.
“Spider Girl”
A four-year-old girl’s affinity for spiders results in tragedy.
-- This was not the story I expected it to be, and I’m so glad it wasn’t. This was my favorite story in the collection, I think. It’s got spiders, adults who don’t believe children, and something really nasty. What more could you want?
“Dad’s Souvenirs”
As an international pilot, Dad always brings his kids home exotic souvenirs. But the secrets they hold are life-destroying.
-- This story is a continuation of another tale, “The Skeleton Key” in another of Cooper’s works, ‘The Corpse Garden’. It was a pleasant surprise to delve back into that world. Sometimes, the most monstrous things are humans themselves.
“The Lesson of the Tiger”
Sunny learned about patience through a story about a tiger. She learned that sometimes, it’s better to let keep the tiger calm than it is to run or to fight. This lesson comes in handy when a college boy thinks he is entitled to more than he is.
-- I liked everything about this story, but I especially liked how to lesson gets twisted on its head.
“Daddy’s Little Princess”
After Fiona’s mother dies, her father vows to never let her feel bad again. But this is not the sort of parenting that’s good for a child. Or those in their life.
-- The dad tries to do the right thing by his little girl but, sometimes, too much of a good thing can be really, really bad.
“Crinklebottom”
A father passes on his childhood “monster fighter” to his daughter to help her sleep through the night and gets more than they bargained for.
-- Cooper really knows how to capture both what it’s like to be a child -- the innocence and the fear -- and what it’s like to be an adult. All of these stories show that, but perhaps none more than this one.
“From the Basement”
Cassie, sixteen, is asked to house-sit for her aunt when she goes on vacation. Cassie absolutely does not want to do it, but her parents force her. Her desire to get out of the house grows exponentially when strange sounds start coming from the basement.
-- Oh, man. This story is scary because it could actually happen.
“Little Old Lady Magic”
When a teenage girl’s father dies, she discovers just the sort of person her mother really is. With the help of an unexpected friend, the score is evened.
-- This is one of those stories that had me inwardly cheering by the end. It’s a real gem.
“My Brother’s Voice”
Kerri while on her way home from work gets abducted. During her ordeal, she holds onto a conversation she had with her cop-brother in which he told her, if anything ever happened to her, he would find her.
-- The connection of family, of love, is tested in this story, and I loved it.
“The Little People”
Grandma always told the kids not to talk to the “little people”, but the surest way to make a kid do what you don’t want is to tell them what not to do.
-- This story is a perfect example of childish innocence and grown-up mistakes.
‘From Twisted Roots: Thriller, Horror, and Mystery Short Stories’ by S.H. Cooper
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on May 14, 2018
Read with Kindle Unlimited Subscription
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle | $12.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
From twisted roots comes poisoned fruit, and even the most wholesome families have their dark secrets.
Inside you'll experience intimate first hand accounts of modern day murders, kidnappings, and violent revenge. Other stories are heartwarming with whimsical mysteries, gothic fairy tales, and supernatural monstrosities. Nothing is as it seems, nothing is safe, and anything is possible as you embark upon these thrilling tales to uncover the truth.
MY REVIEW:
Aptly titled, this book is a delightfully twisted collection of short horror stories. Right from the start, Cooper draws you into her world and keeps you there. You never know what you’re going to get from one story to the next, but you know you’re going to enjoy the ride.
This collection includes the stories:
“Fran and Jock”
As a young girl, Sadie is gifted a talking teddy bear from each of her grandfathers. Each bear plays a recording of her grandfather saying, “I love you, Sadie”. They became treasured items in her household, especially after her grandfather’s passed away. But, as all kids do, Sadie grew up and lost interest in the toys. When she moves out, she leaves them at home with her parents.
Eventually, Sadie’s parents ask her to house-sit while they go on a trip. Glad to do it, she returns home and settles into her old bedroom full of memories. And her talking bears.
-- This is a fun story with a charming, unexpected ending.
“The Signs Were All There”
A doctor who has a family history of experiencing death omens gets one about her daughter from a young patient. Not one to take something like that lightly, she frantically scrambles to get home to her daughter with terrible consequences.
-- I really liked the atmosphere of this story. Cooper does a great job of making the reader feel her panic and fear. The pacing is perfect and not a word is wasted.
“As Long As There Are Children”
There’s rumored to be a carnival exclusively for children deep in the woods. Of course, this proves irresistible to Bill and his friends. Bill reluctantly brings his little brother, Noah, along unknowing they are both about to get the fright of their lives.
-- I don’t know what it is, but I have always been a fan of creepy carnival/amusement park stories. This one has a very Stephen King feel to it, and I enjoyed it very much.
“Her Last Call”
Catarina is the cousin everyone loves to hate. She’s snotty and mean and just generally a not-great person, so when the main character’s mom insists Catarina come to stay for a week, she knows she’s in for the weekend from hell. When Catarina receives a phone call from a girl she’s bullied at school, things quickly spiral out of control.
-- Who doesn’t like a story in which the bullied get revenge on their tormentor? This one is downright creepy.
“The December Tapes”
Libby Helmer gets abducted on her way home from school, and for the next several years, her family receives a package containing an audiotape of Libby speaking to them. Eventually, the tapes break Libby’s mother, and she refuses to listen.
-- The plot of this story is original and gripping. Child abduction alone is a terrifying scenario, but to be tortured over and over again by the captor adds a whole new level of horror.
“Smidge”
Audrey and Connor discover food missing from their house and realize their son, Jamie, has been stealing it. He says he’s been feeding “Smidge” beneath the house, and Smidge has a growing appetite.
-- This story is so fun! If you’ve read my reviews before, you know I absolutely love a good monster story, and this is one of the good ones. I particularly like how vague Cooper leaves Smidge. I hate when we are “shown” the monster in too much detail. It’s so much creepier to me when we are able to imagine it on our own.
“The Ringing in My Ears”
An anesthesiologist suddenly starts hearing a ringing in his ears after his daughter is attacked.
-- This is one of those stories in which the ending makes the story. It’s unexpected and bizarrely satisfying.
“Through the Peephole”
Elaine and Reg move into a new home, and Reg decides to install one of those doorbell cameras to keep Elaine safe. Especially while he’s away on business trips. One night, after he’s left for one of these trips, someone rings Elaine’s doorbell. Using the camera, she sees her husband on the porch demanding to be let in, but something is very, very off.
-- There’s something inherently creepy about surveillance cameras, baby monitor cameras, etc. You never know what you’re going to see on the other end. This story does a lovely job conveying that scenario.
“Death’s Choice”
What would you do if you had to choose whose life is more important? More worth living? That’s the situation the man in this story is faced with.
-- This wasn’t my favorite story in the collection, but it was still a good read.
“The Quiet Neighbor”
When a brother and sister move into a new house, they were warned about their weird, mean neighbor. At first, they avoid him and his anger, but after the brother’s fun new birthday present is snatched by the neighbor after it flies into his yard, the siblings decide to retrieve it. What they find in his house is beyond their wildest dreams.
-- Oooh, I really enjoyed this story. It’s scary but strangely heartwarming in what the neighbor is willing to do for his wife.
“Going to Grandma’s”
Sheila’s grandma lives in a big, beautiful, Victorian home. But Sheila refuses to ever go there again after she spent a night in it after her own home burned down. Family secrets can be haunting.
-- Dang, I love a good ghost story! I especially liked how what’s in the house seems to have changed over time. You don’t often see that in a ghost tale.
“The Aftermath of Murder”
What would you do if you discovered there’s a murderer in your family? That’s what happens to the Graham family in this story, and it changes thing forever.
-- This is an interesting, compelling take on a terrible situation.
“The Gift That Keeps On Giving”
Sisters Jackie and Leah are best friends, despite Leah’s often bizarre behavior. She has always been fascinated by blood. That fascination turns frightening when Jackie buys Leah a gift cursed by blood.
-- I liked this story. There are a lot of tales out there about cursed items, but Cooper adds her own, unique, spin with this.
“Ring Once”
Home alone, a teenage girl is frightened when the telephone keeps ringing a single time over and over again. When her parents come home, the truth of the situation is revealed.
-- This is an absolutely lovely story. It hit me right in the feels, as the kids say.
“Airsekui”
When dozens of women go missing, everyone wants to know who’s taken them, but the truth is stranger than they expected.
-- All I’ll say is Cooper does creature tales well.
“Spider Girl”
A four-year-old girl’s affinity for spiders results in tragedy.
-- This was not the story I expected it to be, and I’m so glad it wasn’t. This was my favorite story in the collection, I think. It’s got spiders, adults who don’t believe children, and something really nasty. What more could you want?
“Dad’s Souvenirs”
As an international pilot, Dad always brings his kids home exotic souvenirs. But the secrets they hold are life-destroying.
-- This story is a continuation of another tale, “The Skeleton Key” in another of Cooper’s works, ‘The Corpse Garden’. It was a pleasant surprise to delve back into that world. Sometimes, the most monstrous things are humans themselves.
“The Lesson of the Tiger”
Sunny learned about patience through a story about a tiger. She learned that sometimes, it’s better to let keep the tiger calm than it is to run or to fight. This lesson comes in handy when a college boy thinks he is entitled to more than he is.
-- I liked everything about this story, but I especially liked how to lesson gets twisted on its head.
“Daddy’s Little Princess”
After Fiona’s mother dies, her father vows to never let her feel bad again. But this is not the sort of parenting that’s good for a child. Or those in their life.
-- The dad tries to do the right thing by his little girl but, sometimes, too much of a good thing can be really, really bad.
“Crinklebottom”
A father passes on his childhood “monster fighter” to his daughter to help her sleep through the night and gets more than they bargained for.
-- Cooper really knows how to capture both what it’s like to be a child -- the innocence and the fear -- and what it’s like to be an adult. All of these stories show that, but perhaps none more than this one.
“From the Basement”
Cassie, sixteen, is asked to house-sit for her aunt when she goes on vacation. Cassie absolutely does not want to do it, but her parents force her. Her desire to get out of the house grows exponentially when strange sounds start coming from the basement.
-- Oh, man. This story is scary because it could actually happen.
“Little Old Lady Magic”
When a teenage girl’s father dies, she discovers just the sort of person her mother really is. With the help of an unexpected friend, the score is evened.
-- This is one of those stories that had me inwardly cheering by the end. It’s a real gem.
“My Brother’s Voice”
Kerri while on her way home from work gets abducted. During her ordeal, she holds onto a conversation she had with her cop-brother in which he told her, if anything ever happened to her, he would find her.
-- The connection of family, of love, is tested in this story, and I loved it.
“The Little People”
Grandma always told the kids not to talk to the “little people”, but the surest way to make a kid do what you don’t want is to tell them what not to do.
-- This story is a perfect example of childish innocence and grown-up mistakes.
July 30, 2018
Twisted stories
A good anthology of diverse tales written to entertain horror and thriller fans. The stories are short; ideal for those moments between busy schedules. I will look for more kindle unlimited books by this author.
A good anthology of diverse tales written to entertain horror and thriller fans. The stories are short; ideal for those moments between busy schedules. I will look for more kindle unlimited books by this author.
May 2, 2021
Being a huge fan of S.H. Cooper on r/nosleep, I was really excited to get my hands on this book and to say it does not disappoint is an understatement.
Packed with many of my personal favourites from the SubReddit and a lot of new reads, this book is well worth owning.
In case you haven't read it yet, do read it, I cannot recommend it enough. And if you haven't followed the author on Reddit yet, do so right away. You won't regret it.
Packed with many of my personal favourites from the SubReddit and a lot of new reads, this book is well worth owning.
In case you haven't read it yet, do read it, I cannot recommend it enough. And if you haven't followed the author on Reddit yet, do so right away. You won't regret it.
March 19, 2020
S.H. Cooper brings us From Twisted Roots: Thriller, Horror, and Mystery Short Stories. I absolutely love this collection. Each story packs a punch, even though they’re all a little different. Some end in tragedy. Others in victory. There’s revenge served cold, and even heartwarming endings. All of them have that emotional impact, and a thread of fear runs through them.
There’s a woman who still has two teddy bears her grandfathers gave her. Each one has a recording of the man saying “I love you, Sadie,” whenever it’s squeezed. But one night, the script changes. There’s a woman whose family has a tendency to get “messages from the universe” when someone dies, and she just got a message that seems to be from her daughter. So she races home to find out what’s going on. (I had my hand over my mouth with my eyes wide on this one.)
There’s a free carnival for children, and a bullied girl who calls her bully just before she does something terrible. A little girl disappears, and her family gets a tape of her talking to them once a year. A young boy feeds a monster that lives under the house, named Smidge. There’s a mean neighbor in one tale who refuses to allow any child near his property. One family’s grandmother always has a reason why her family shouldn’t visit her at her home, until she has no choice but to take her granddaughter for a night.
Hazel has to visit her beloved Grandpa on his farm for a little while, but something strange starts to happen to the animals in their pens. Another little girl tells her family they’re no longer allowed to kill spiders because the queen spider is protecting her. One teenager learns a valuable lesson from her father’s D&D games, while another takes advantage of her single father’s desire to give her everything she wants. A stuffed animal meant to protect a little girl takes on a new role. A little old lady has a bit of magic of her own when two people want to make her leave her home.
There’s a grandmother who warns her grandchildren to stay away from “the little people,” and another who makes “annoyance curses” at her grandchild’s bullies–ones that come true. Another little girl remembers her “past lifes” and tries to warn her mother about events that repeat themselves.
There are plenty of surprises, but even when I can guess what’s coming the stories are so engrossing that it just doesn’t matter. It doesn’t in any way take away from the suspense. There are a ton of stories in here, and they’ll definitely get you through some of the current craziness in the world–this is some quality escapism here. The characterization is excellent, the quickly-sketched-out worldbuilding is engrossing, and the variety of material is wonderful. Most stories have an element of the paranormal to them, but not all. (And in some you can’t be sure.)
Content note for suicide, rape (not shown on the page), torture, child death, child abuse, animal death, and human trafficking. All of these things are handled bluntly and with a minimum of gory detail. Most of them happen off of the page.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/03/r...
There’s a woman who still has two teddy bears her grandfathers gave her. Each one has a recording of the man saying “I love you, Sadie,” whenever it’s squeezed. But one night, the script changes. There’s a woman whose family has a tendency to get “messages from the universe” when someone dies, and she just got a message that seems to be from her daughter. So she races home to find out what’s going on. (I had my hand over my mouth with my eyes wide on this one.)
There’s a free carnival for children, and a bullied girl who calls her bully just before she does something terrible. A little girl disappears, and her family gets a tape of her talking to them once a year. A young boy feeds a monster that lives under the house, named Smidge. There’s a mean neighbor in one tale who refuses to allow any child near his property. One family’s grandmother always has a reason why her family shouldn’t visit her at her home, until she has no choice but to take her granddaughter for a night.
Hazel has to visit her beloved Grandpa on his farm for a little while, but something strange starts to happen to the animals in their pens. Another little girl tells her family they’re no longer allowed to kill spiders because the queen spider is protecting her. One teenager learns a valuable lesson from her father’s D&D games, while another takes advantage of her single father’s desire to give her everything she wants. A stuffed animal meant to protect a little girl takes on a new role. A little old lady has a bit of magic of her own when two people want to make her leave her home.
There’s a grandmother who warns her grandchildren to stay away from “the little people,” and another who makes “annoyance curses” at her grandchild’s bullies–ones that come true. Another little girl remembers her “past lifes” and tries to warn her mother about events that repeat themselves.
There are plenty of surprises, but even when I can guess what’s coming the stories are so engrossing that it just doesn’t matter. It doesn’t in any way take away from the suspense. There are a ton of stories in here, and they’ll definitely get you through some of the current craziness in the world–this is some quality escapism here. The characterization is excellent, the quickly-sketched-out worldbuilding is engrossing, and the variety of material is wonderful. Most stories have an element of the paranormal to them, but not all. (And in some you can’t be sure.)
Content note for suicide, rape (not shown on the page), torture, child death, child abuse, animal death, and human trafficking. All of these things are handled bluntly and with a minimum of gory detail. Most of them happen off of the page.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/03/r...
October 17, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"I don't answer the door any more."
This collection of twenty four well written short stories explores different aspects of horror and mysteries, not just the 'bump in the night' scary story (although there are those here, too, but the really terrifying 'what happened next?' type, as in the sweet turning sinister, Smidge, and the social and psychological horror which descends on a family through no fault of their own, in Aftermath of a Murder. Some are heartwarming, like Fran and Jock, others more traditionally creepy, as in As Long as there were children. Not one could be described as boring, each quickly drawing in the reader with tentacles of expectations.
The narrator fully does justice to each and every one. A pleasantly normal voice, reading with moderate pace, clarity and good intonation, the warmth of Paul Jenkins' narration contrasts with the often strangeness or bewilderment or fear inherent in the text, and so enhances it. A good, steady performance.
My thanks to the rights holder of From Twisted Roots who, at my request, freely gifted me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. Usually, I prefer to read a book straight through with as few pauses as possible. With this one, however, I felt that several of the stories deserved time for reflection and so spread the reading over several days. A fine collection, and recommended.
"I don't answer the door any more."
This collection of twenty four well written short stories explores different aspects of horror and mysteries, not just the 'bump in the night' scary story (although there are those here, too, but the really terrifying 'what happened next?' type, as in the sweet turning sinister, Smidge, and the social and psychological horror which descends on a family through no fault of their own, in Aftermath of a Murder. Some are heartwarming, like Fran and Jock, others more traditionally creepy, as in As Long as there were children. Not one could be described as boring, each quickly drawing in the reader with tentacles of expectations.
The narrator fully does justice to each and every one. A pleasantly normal voice, reading with moderate pace, clarity and good intonation, the warmth of Paul Jenkins' narration contrasts with the often strangeness or bewilderment or fear inherent in the text, and so enhances it. A good, steady performance.
My thanks to the rights holder of From Twisted Roots who, at my request, freely gifted me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. Usually, I prefer to read a book straight through with as few pauses as possible. With this one, however, I felt that several of the stories deserved time for reflection and so spread the reading over several days. A fine collection, and recommended.
May 24, 2018
I have been a huge fan of S.H. Cooper's short stories, which have been featured both on Reddit's Nosleep and the Nosleep Podcast. I received an advance review copy, which featured some of my favourite stories of the past, as well as new ones, all wrapped up in a nice compilation of bite-sized portions of horror.
The stories are well-written, and tend to grip you from the beginning, leaving you unable to put the book down until you have finished the story. And then you decide to just peek at the next one.. and the next one.. Some take you through familiar everyday situations and leave you watching the dark corners of your own room with distrust. Some are almost heartwarming stories of families and friendship, beyond the horror. With each story, S. H. Cooper takes you on an immersive ride, and you can never be quite sure where it will take you. One thing you can be sure of, and that is the empty feeling when you have read them all and can no longer take a journey through the fantastical environments created by the author's twisted mind.
While I received an advance copy, I will be sure to purchase the book once it is available, just to show my support for this fantastic writer. After all, we do want more, don't we?
The stories are well-written, and tend to grip you from the beginning, leaving you unable to put the book down until you have finished the story. And then you decide to just peek at the next one.. and the next one.. Some take you through familiar everyday situations and leave you watching the dark corners of your own room with distrust. Some are almost heartwarming stories of families and friendship, beyond the horror. With each story, S. H. Cooper takes you on an immersive ride, and you can never be quite sure where it will take you. One thing you can be sure of, and that is the empty feeling when you have read them all and can no longer take a journey through the fantastical environments created by the author's twisted mind.
While I received an advance copy, I will be sure to purchase the book once it is available, just to show my support for this fantastic writer. After all, we do want more, don't we?
January 1, 2019
Ótima antologia. Os contos da autora assustam e provocam desconforto, com personagens bem desenvolvidos e acontecimentos perturbadores. Avanço significativo em comparação ao seu trabalho anterior. Meus contos favoritos foram os seguintes:
* As Long as There Are Children, sobre um garoto que acompanha seu irmão e os amigos dele até um parque de diversões no meio de uma floresta;
* Her Last Call, sobre uma garota que recebe a visita de uma prima insuportável, que responde por suas ações através de uma ligação misteriosa;
* Smidge, sobre um garotinho que encontra um animalzinho embaixo de sua casa;
* The Quiet Neighbor, sobre dois irmãos que vão recuperar um brinquedo na casa de um vizinho ranzinza;
* Going to Gandma's, sobre a única visita de uma garota à casa de sua avó, e seu encontro com aquilo que seu antepassado deixou para trás;
* Airsekui, sobre os segredos que um avô esconde de sua neta e aparecem para atormentá-lo;
* The Lesson of Tiger, sobre uma importante lição que um pai nerd ensina à filha em uma partida de D&D;
e
* Crinklebottom, sobre uma vaquinha de pelúcia que protege uma garotinha dos outros monstros.
* As Long as There Are Children, sobre um garoto que acompanha seu irmão e os amigos dele até um parque de diversões no meio de uma floresta;
* Her Last Call, sobre uma garota que recebe a visita de uma prima insuportável, que responde por suas ações através de uma ligação misteriosa;
* Smidge, sobre um garotinho que encontra um animalzinho embaixo de sua casa;
* The Quiet Neighbor, sobre dois irmãos que vão recuperar um brinquedo na casa de um vizinho ranzinza;
* Going to Gandma's, sobre a única visita de uma garota à casa de sua avó, e seu encontro com aquilo que seu antepassado deixou para trás;
* Airsekui, sobre os segredos que um avô esconde de sua neta e aparecem para atormentá-lo;
* The Lesson of Tiger, sobre uma importante lição que um pai nerd ensina à filha em uma partida de D&D;
e
* Crinklebottom, sobre uma vaquinha de pelúcia que protege uma garotinha dos outros monstros.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2020
S.H. Cooper is one hell of a writer. I read her novella The Festering Ones, and loved it, but her short stories are a whole nother level. This collection is incredible, with horror and thriller elements in each one, well crafted and perfect length. I was squeezing in a story or two around my scheduled reading, but I found myself thinking about them often. In fact, I began the first story, Fran and Jock, right before bed and had to put it aside, knowing it would keep me up. Through the Peephole actually still creeps me out when I turn the light off at night.
One thing I've always wondered about short story collections, is how the writer manages to have so many separate ideas without them running together after a time. I still don't know how they manage, but Cooper could write a dissertation on it. Other favorites included Ring Once, The Lesson of the Tiger, Little Old Lady Magic and Moomaw's curse. Several times I was bopping along with a story, sure I knew where it was going, only to be totally redirected, and left with a perfect, spine tingling final paragraph or sentence. Highly recommend.
One thing I've always wondered about short story collections, is how the writer manages to have so many separate ideas without them running together after a time. I still don't know how they manage, but Cooper could write a dissertation on it. Other favorites included Ring Once, The Lesson of the Tiger, Little Old Lady Magic and Moomaw's curse. Several times I was bopping along with a story, sure I knew where it was going, only to be totally redirected, and left with a perfect, spine tingling final paragraph or sentence. Highly recommend.
November 25, 2023
**Terrify your tablet **
Overall, 4⭐️ very good short stories. Will be including the title of the short story, rating and mini review.
* Fran and Jock 4⭐️
* The Signs Were All There 5⭐️ Wow, this was intense, and that ending was creepy.
* As Long As There Are Children 5⭐️ Creepy
* Her Last Call 2⭐️
* The December Tapes 5⭐️ this was just brutal and intense
* Smidge 2⭐️
* The Ringing In My Ear 3⭐️
* Through The Peephole 4⭐️ creepy
* Death’s Choice 4⭐️ makes you think of “what if”
* The Quiet Neighbor 4⭐️
* Going to Grandma’s 2⭐️
* The Aftermath of Murder 4⭐️ sad
* The Gift That Keeps On Giving 4⭐️ ideas that would be made into a movie
* Ring Once 4⭐️ sad
* Airsekui 5⭐️ wow!
* Spider Girl 4⭐️
* Dad’s Souvenirs 4⭐️brutal!
* The Lesson of the Tiger 5⭐️ nice
* Daddy’s Little Princess 4⭐️
* Crinklebottom 4⭐️ I need MORE!
* From The Basement 3⭐️
* Little Old Lady Magic 2⭐️
* My Brother’s Voice 4⭐️
* The Little People 4⭐️ Irishes, man
* Moomaw’s Curses 3⭐️
* The Past Repeats3⭐️
Overall, 4⭐️ very good short stories. Will be including the title of the short story, rating and mini review.
* Fran and Jock 4⭐️
* The Signs Were All There 5⭐️ Wow, this was intense, and that ending was creepy.
* As Long As There Are Children 5⭐️ Creepy
* Her Last Call 2⭐️
* The December Tapes 5⭐️ this was just brutal and intense
* Smidge 2⭐️
* The Ringing In My Ear 3⭐️
* Through The Peephole 4⭐️ creepy
* Death’s Choice 4⭐️ makes you think of “what if”
* The Quiet Neighbor 4⭐️
* Going to Grandma’s 2⭐️
* The Aftermath of Murder 4⭐️ sad
* The Gift That Keeps On Giving 4⭐️ ideas that would be made into a movie
* Ring Once 4⭐️ sad
* Airsekui 5⭐️ wow!
* Spider Girl 4⭐️
* Dad’s Souvenirs 4⭐️brutal!
* The Lesson of the Tiger 5⭐️ nice
* Daddy’s Little Princess 4⭐️
* Crinklebottom 4⭐️ I need MORE!
* From The Basement 3⭐️
* Little Old Lady Magic 2⭐️
* My Brother’s Voice 4⭐️
* The Little People 4⭐️ Irishes, man
* Moomaw’s Curses 3⭐️
* The Past Repeats3⭐️
May 31, 2018
Review: FROM TWISTED ROOTS by S. H. Cooper
SO SCARY!! This fine collection, varied but always with impact, will likely keep you awake at night, and will definitely burrow into your memories to recur when you least expect (such as middle of the night or in dreams). If you enjoy the short fiction of Sheri White, I predict you will also enjoy S. H. Cooper' s personal brand of horror.
Caution: Many of these stories include trauma to children, and women in danger or distress. If you are of an extraordinarily sensitive nature, take note before proceeding.
I read this collection straight through, but I recommend taking one story at a time (maybe at bedtime) and savor it.
SO SCARY!! This fine collection, varied but always with impact, will likely keep you awake at night, and will definitely burrow into your memories to recur when you least expect (such as middle of the night or in dreams). If you enjoy the short fiction of Sheri White, I predict you will also enjoy S. H. Cooper' s personal brand of horror.
Caution: Many of these stories include trauma to children, and women in danger or distress. If you are of an extraordinarily sensitive nature, take note before proceeding.
I read this collection straight through, but I recommend taking one story at a time (maybe at bedtime) and savor it.
May 12, 2018
Didn't intend to read this book all in one evening, but couldn't put it down! S.H. Cooper writes brief, snapshot stories that can hook you into a character with just a few sentences. All her stories are fresh and novel, giving credence to her ability to remain inspired after producing so many unique tales. The little twists and turns are enough to make your heart skip a few beats on a dark, rainy night. Loved the old favourites like 'Death's Choice', and was very pleased to find new gems like 'My Brother's Voice'. The perfect way to spend the weekend!
June 11, 2018
I loved this book. I wasn't sure what to expect with it, but whatever I expected was surpassed by this collection of short stories. I would recommend this book to any true-horror fan, but with an asterisk. This book is a horror collection. And many of the stories in it are centered around children. Some involve children deaths. Some involve children doing horrible things, including murder. If that's something that would bother you, I'd seriously tell you to pass on this book. But if it doesn't, then dive in.
November 5, 2018
You had me at teddy bears and I never turned back. This was brilliant. I loved the collection and when the book was over I was both surprised that it crept up on me so fast, and a little sad that it was done. My son and I listen to audiobooks in the car when I drive him to school and after hearing the first story, he was hooked. I thought Paul Jenkins did a superb job narrating this book and really made the various characters come alive for me. I loved this book.
This book was given to me for free at my request for my voluntary and unbiased review.
This book was given to me for free at my request for my voluntary and unbiased review.
July 23, 2024
This is the first book I've ever read from S.H. Cooper and I'm pleasantly impressed! This collection of horror stories holds so many different horror tropes, twists, and characters within that had me gripped the entire read. There wasn't a short story that I didn't enjoy!
Although each story was short, S.H. Cooper never failed to conjure an amazing tale out of each. Even the character development was done extremely well. Definitely worth the read if you're a fan of short horror stories.
Although each story was short, S.H. Cooper never failed to conjure an amazing tale out of each. Even the character development was done extremely well. Definitely worth the read if you're a fan of short horror stories.
May 5, 2023
Completely Satisfying!
From Twisted Roots is a fantastic compilation of short stories from S.H. Cooper. I enjoy her style of writing and story telling. Just when you think you have it all figured out you realize you don’t. Spooky, wholesome, complex, unpredictable and satisfying! Well worth the read!!
From Twisted Roots is a fantastic compilation of short stories from S.H. Cooper. I enjoy her style of writing and story telling. Just when you think you have it all figured out you realize you don’t. Spooky, wholesome, complex, unpredictable and satisfying! Well worth the read!!
August 20, 2018
SH Cooper quickly became my favorite short horror story writer. She has such a unique way of weaving stories that grabs you from the start, and most of them end (or not) in unexpected ways. This book is no different. I can't actually choose a favorite story from it.
January 21, 2020
Wholesome horror, S.H. Cooper's brand, is subtly terrifying. Her stories creep under your skin, where they pick away at your bones, burrowing deep to stay with you forever. What a great read! (I received this book as an ARC and am leaving my honest feedback.)
August 24, 2020
Great stories
I love all things horror and this collection didn't disappoint. The stories are short but really draw you in. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys horror short stories.
I love all things horror and this collection didn't disappoint. The stories are short but really draw you in. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys horror short stories.
January 26, 2023
Excellent collection of short stories
I'm never disappointed by anything S.H. Cooper writes, and this is no exception. Short, often punchy, stories that really stick in your brain. Highly reccomended.
I'm never disappointed by anything S.H. Cooper writes, and this is no exception. Short, often punchy, stories that really stick in your brain. Highly reccomended.
March 20, 2024
A rare and wondrous treat!
Short story collections and anthologies, from my experiences, tend to have more stories I dislike than like. In the case of "From Twisted Roots", it was just the opposite. So many memorable and well-written tales here.
Very enjoyable.
Short story collections and anthologies, from my experiences, tend to have more stories I dislike than like. In the case of "From Twisted Roots", it was just the opposite. So many memorable and well-written tales here.
Very enjoyable.
May 14, 2018
I love all of her short stories! I sat down and read this in 2 days. They just pull you right in. I can't wait to read more!
June 25, 2018
Wow. First time read from this new author for me. Impossible to put down, had me gripped from the beginning. Definitely will read more of these books.
January 31, 2019
Enjoyable
I enjoyed this but yet again a lot of typos that got on my nerves because it made reading some sentences a bit harder.
I enjoyed this but yet again a lot of typos that got on my nerves because it made reading some sentences a bit harder.
April 30, 2019
GREAT collection of creepy short stories!
September 7, 2020
Wholesome horror! Didn't know it was a thing, but I am here for it and this short story collection
November 27, 2022
I love a good short story and there are many excellent stories in here. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2019
Collection of short "scary" stories. Some better than others. Quick read.
May 18, 2018
As the title implies, a compilation of short stories focused around family &/or childhood. Most are available online, but there are several new stories, and they're every bit as good as the rest. The book opened strong, with stories so suspenseful I didn't mind re-reading them, as well as memorable characters for short story fare and unique, disturbing situations. However, I thought it lost steam in the second half, becoming more hit-and-miss, with nothing to really set it apart from other anthology books besides the family theme. The stories range from tragic to heartwarming, and almost all of them are good for at least one read.
Read
May 25, 2018Thoroughly enjoyed the short stories in this book. I wish there were more stories in the book because I did not want it to end!
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