The Toilet Zone

The Toilet Zone #1

by Bret McCormick, Mark Towse, Bill Davidson

Compiled and edited by the grand master of 80's schlock horror, Bret McCormick, each one of this collection of 32 terrifying tales is just the perfect length for a visit to the smallest room....At the very boundaries of human imagination dwells one single, solitary place of solitude, of peace and quiet, a place in which your regular human being spends, on average, 10 to 15 minutes - at least once every single day of their lives.Now, consider a typical, everyday reading speed of 200 to 250 words per minute - that means your average visitor has the time to read between 2,500 to 4,000 words, which makes each and every one of these 32 tales of terror - from some of the best contemporary independent authors - within this anthology of horror the perfect, meticulously calculated length.Dare you take a walk to the small room from where inky shadows creep out to smother the light and solitude's siren call beckons you? Dare you take a quiet, lonely walk into...The Toilet Zone.

Genres: Horror

334 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2019

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be completely honest...I almost declined reading this book. I'm ashamed to admit, I totally judged a book by its title. But I'm glad I changed my mind & gave it a chance. The 32 short stories in this anthology are well written & quite a few are scary as hell.

The premise of the book is each story is just long enough for your daily trip to the bathroom & each story has a reminder at the end to make sure you wash your hands. Although I am not sure I'd really recommend reading this in the bathroom, as I kept reading to the point that my legs probably would have gone numb. I enjoyed almost every story, but there were a few stand out stories that actually gave me nightmares... which is kind of difficult to do.

My top 3 stories:
1. The Itch by Mark Towse
2. Reclaimed by DJ Tyler
3. Crow by Ian Bain

I really want to give a description of each of these stories, but I feel like it would totally ruin the stories if I did. I'll just say they are totally nightmare fuel.

*Thank you to Hellbound Books for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
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[Rachel Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The many authors of these short stories have given a plethora of different scenarios, touching on so many varied fears. I tried only reading it during the time it's made for (see the forward and title for hints and hilarity). That did not last long. My brain welcomed each new morsel and I wound up reading the entire book in a day! Some stories were geared toward phobias, some were more thriller styled, and some were just plain odd, but for me, most were entertaining and some held those little twists that I crave when I'm reading horror. I'm gonna say my faves were Last Ride by Madison Estes, Keepsakes by Alyssa N. Vaughn, and Visceral by Jared Baker. But do not skip the others. Enjoy this book as it's intended, if you can. The book won't let you forget to wash your hands...

[Mark Towse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!

[Bryan Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 32 short stories and to say they are all worth reading would be a lie. More than half or worth it and those that are can make you forget the questionable stories. I won’t name the stories because I think the entire book should be read. I will give an example of what can be found in this book. So if you have seen the movie Basket Case then there is a story for you. Imagine being a serial killer and wanting a day off. Now imagine being the cleaning crew for the serial killer and how they never get a day off due to the amount of killers. Do you remember The Rat King in Ninja Turtles? If you do then there is a story for you. Running away from an abusive ex only to assume the next man you met is abusive and we know what an assumption can do to you. Imagine being a retired serial killer and wanting one last kill. Now imagine being a cannibal and wanting one last meal. What if no one in your family knew that about you and now your child brings you a brand new baby…should you kiss the sweet flesh or should you eat it and kill your family. The old abandoned house with a ghost story but there is a catch to it. Have you seen the movie Demons? If so then there is a story in here for you that is very similar. Have you had an attachment to a thing? Sometimes attachment to objects can be dangerous.

[Jill Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Toilet Zone is a masterpiece of gore and gruesomeness. If you are looking for a plate of cannibalism, angry demons, and murderous bouts of anti-social experiences, this is the book for you. The variety of stories seems endless. The title alone draws you in and makes you wonder what kind of zone belongs in a toilet. Read, and you will find out. From start to finish, you will find yourself checking your pulse to make sure you are still alive.

There are a few obvious grammar and spelling issues that the editor in me noticed. But, they didn't distract from the entertaining and brilliant themes each author presented.

At the end of each story, you read a prompt telling you, “Now wash your hands.” Brilliant! What happens if you don’t wash your hands? I’m not telling. You’ll have to read the book and find out on your own. Now, let me check my guts to make sure they’re still there…or are they dripping out of the gaping hole?