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Cold Comforts
Haunted objects. Haunted places. Haunted people.
Creatures otherworldly and places where looming shadows bring dread to your door.
A school bus stops at the home of an isolated family whose unusual children have a unique way to scare off their enemies.
A vacationing couple discovers something deeper than their love resides within wine country.
Objects in the attic of an old farmhouse come to life seeking retribution.
A peculiar girl discovers she has a strange ability.
These thirteen tales will take you from the farms and woods of the heartland, to prison and the south of France. Whether you're crunching through the snow wondering what's moving behind you, or sitting by a campfire listening to a tale of revenge, pull a blanket tight around your shoulders and be prepared for an impending chill to race down your spine.
All you'll find are cold comforts here.
Creatures otherworldly and places where looming shadows bring dread to your door.
A school bus stops at the home of an isolated family whose unusual children have a unique way to scare off their enemies.
A vacationing couple discovers something deeper than their love resides within wine country.
Objects in the attic of an old farmhouse come to life seeking retribution.
A peculiar girl discovers she has a strange ability.
These thirteen tales will take you from the farms and woods of the heartland, to prison and the south of France. Whether you're crunching through the snow wondering what's moving behind you, or sitting by a campfire listening to a tale of revenge, pull a blanket tight around your shoulders and be prepared for an impending chill to race down your spine.
All you'll find are cold comforts here.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
156 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2019
4 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Marianne Halbert
35 books12 followersMarianne Halbert is an author from central Indiana. Her quiet horror stories have been described as “whimsical and terrifying” as well as “elegant and macabre”. Her latest collection is “Cold Comforts” (Crossroad Press, 2019) and is full of slow-burn horror stories. Marianne is a member of the HWA and was on the “How to Haunt a House” panel at V-Con (virtual Necon) 2021. She has a story on PseudoPod (Ep. 776).
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 10, 2020
Cold Comforts is a solid collection of morbid tales. The horror is the slow creep, quieter kind which is the type of horror I was craving after reading a few too many squishy tales, not there’s anything wrong with those because I love them (maybe a little too much for my own good!), but sometimes it’s nice to kick back with something a little less in your face.
The collection starts out with WHEN BETSY WHISPERS which ended up being my absolute favorite and is worthy of all five stars. It’s an eerie coming of age tale, of sorts. To say too much is to ruin the story. It’s SO unique and the prose is strangely sensual and beautiful and completely captivating. It’s dark as hell, sinister and lovely. This is the stuff I adore and you must all read it.
As with all collections, I loved some stories and I liked others. I’m going to focus on the ones I liked the most. Here they are:
PAPA’S WRENCH AND THE WINDCHIME is another great one. If creepy kids freak you out and you like that freaky feeling, you have to read this one. It’s about a strange brood of children who live in a dilapidated house. It’s super peculiar and it’s quite fantastic.
LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE features a man learning to maneuver his way through a soul-sucking job who gets a little help from a young lady. This one was beautifully evil. Such good stuff here.
LUXOR DECANTED is another beautifully told story. It’s about a cursed relic, its horrific backstory, and the vacationing couple who become ensnared in its darkness. This one is creeptastic.
HOUSING THE HOLLYGOBS features two young cousins who learn that honoring their gramma’s wishes is the single most important thing! This was another slow-burning creepy little darling of a story. Loved it. It felt like a very dark fairytale.
ADVERSE POSSESSION is about a dude named Willard who buys a new house that comes with an easement and responsibilities. Responsibilities that he feels he can scoot around. Well Willard, let me tell ya, shirking your duties is not a good plan and never a good plan in a book like this! But some guys just aren’t that bright now, are they? Willard is one of those guys and he gets what he gets and he deserves it, haha!
A BONE TO PICK is the last story in the collection and it was a heartbreaker and that’s all I’m going to say.
This was a great mix of dark fiction that was well written and none of the stories felt repetitive. I can easily recommend it if you’re looking for some quiet creeps!
The collection starts out with WHEN BETSY WHISPERS which ended up being my absolute favorite and is worthy of all five stars. It’s an eerie coming of age tale, of sorts. To say too much is to ruin the story. It’s SO unique and the prose is strangely sensual and beautiful and completely captivating. It’s dark as hell, sinister and lovely. This is the stuff I adore and you must all read it.
As with all collections, I loved some stories and I liked others. I’m going to focus on the ones I liked the most. Here they are:
PAPA’S WRENCH AND THE WINDCHIME is another great one. If creepy kids freak you out and you like that freaky feeling, you have to read this one. It’s about a strange brood of children who live in a dilapidated house. It’s super peculiar and it’s quite fantastic.
LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE features a man learning to maneuver his way through a soul-sucking job who gets a little help from a young lady. This one was beautifully evil. Such good stuff here.
LUXOR DECANTED is another beautifully told story. It’s about a cursed relic, its horrific backstory, and the vacationing couple who become ensnared in its darkness. This one is creeptastic.
HOUSING THE HOLLYGOBS features two young cousins who learn that honoring their gramma’s wishes is the single most important thing! This was another slow-burning creepy little darling of a story. Loved it. It felt like a very dark fairytale.
ADVERSE POSSESSION is about a dude named Willard who buys a new house that comes with an easement and responsibilities. Responsibilities that he feels he can scoot around. Well Willard, let me tell ya, shirking your duties is not a good plan and never a good plan in a book like this! But some guys just aren’t that bright now, are they? Willard is one of those guys and he gets what he gets and he deserves it, haha!
A BONE TO PICK is the last story in the collection and it was a heartbreaker and that’s all I’m going to say.
This was a great mix of dark fiction that was well written and none of the stories felt repetitive. I can easily recommend it if you’re looking for some quiet creeps!
October 9, 2019
This is a collection of what feels like modern fairy tales, with a young adult audience in mind. “When Betsy Whispers” follows the mythic voice of a hanging tree that becomes a gallows becomes an electric chair. “Papa's Wrench and the Wind Chime” follows a family of monstrous children who are raised by a grotty witch. A grotesque Uncle Einar sort of story with a different but equally intense love. “Housing the Hollygobs” is nice and creepy and “'Neath Fallow Ground” has some awesome body horror and cosmic cicadas. A nice fun collection that you should have no guilt pressing into the hands of a younger reader.
September 23, 2019
This was quite the collection! I found all the tales equally haunting and creepy. It's always hard when reviewing a collection to single out just a couple stories, but in this case I can say without a doubt that 'Papa's Wrench and the Wind Chime' and 'The Fire Tower' are two powerhouse stories that I'll be thinking of for a long time to come. Highly recommended!
June 1, 2020
* Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! *
I recently posted on Twitter and Facebook about an update on my site’s review requests sections and reminded folks to reach out if they needed a review. The response was fantastic – and the amazing Marianne was the first one to email me!
I’d not read any of her work, so this was a double bonus!
What I liked: ‘Cold Comforts‘ is a collection of thirteen dark stories. In her biography, Halbert describes her writing as “slow burn horror” and I gotta say that is spot on. From the haunting ‘Bone to Pick‘ to the brilliant ‘Hey, Karen‘ every story had its intensity ramp up from zero to ten over the course of the pages.
I have to give special mention to the opener ‘When Betsy Whispers.’ This was one of the single best short stories I’ve ever read. It was hypnotic in its beauty, but soooo bleak at its core.
What I didn’t like: I always sound like a broken record here with collections, but a few stories missed the mark with me. Saying that, the ones I didn’t connect with, may well be the stories another reader enjoys the most!
Why you should buy it: As I said, if slow-burn horror and thrillers are your jam, Halbert is a master. Otherwise, grab this purely to discover Betsy. That story will stay with me forever.
I recently posted on Twitter and Facebook about an update on my site’s review requests sections and reminded folks to reach out if they needed a review. The response was fantastic – and the amazing Marianne was the first one to email me!
I’d not read any of her work, so this was a double bonus!
What I liked: ‘Cold Comforts‘ is a collection of thirteen dark stories. In her biography, Halbert describes her writing as “slow burn horror” and I gotta say that is spot on. From the haunting ‘Bone to Pick‘ to the brilliant ‘Hey, Karen‘ every story had its intensity ramp up from zero to ten over the course of the pages.
I have to give special mention to the opener ‘When Betsy Whispers.’ This was one of the single best short stories I’ve ever read. It was hypnotic in its beauty, but soooo bleak at its core.
What I didn’t like: I always sound like a broken record here with collections, but a few stories missed the mark with me. Saying that, the ones I didn’t connect with, may well be the stories another reader enjoys the most!
Why you should buy it: As I said, if slow-burn horror and thrillers are your jam, Halbert is a master. Otherwise, grab this purely to discover Betsy. That story will stay with me forever.
July 29, 2020
A solid collection! These horror stories have some unique settings and interesting ideas, and I really enjoyed discovering each one. Lost children, old relics, unwanted visitors all make an appearance. The scares come from realising the quiet terror of the unknown.
My favourites of the bunch are Papa's Wrench and the Wind Chime where a strange family is outcast from the community, Housing the Hollygobs involves a grandmother's wish, Conjuring the Corpse Candles where a haunted item terrorises a group of children, Luxor Decanted features an ancient evil, and A Used Infinity has a GPS system gone wrong. I wasn't taken by a couple of the stories but overall this is a great collection if you're looking for something quick and delicious.
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
My favourites of the bunch are Papa's Wrench and the Wind Chime where a strange family is outcast from the community, Housing the Hollygobs involves a grandmother's wish, Conjuring the Corpse Candles where a haunted item terrorises a group of children, Luxor Decanted features an ancient evil, and A Used Infinity has a GPS system gone wrong. I wasn't taken by a couple of the stories but overall this is a great collection if you're looking for something quick and delicious.
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
March 8, 2021
This is the kind of horror I really like. Quiet, gripping, lyrical, evocative and wonderfully creepy. Stories that will keep you guessing throughout, with surprising outcomes.
Halbert’s stories are reminiscent of Poe, Du Maurier and Maupassant, their settings strange and fantastical, their characters fascinating, their worlds full of mystery, haunted places and strange creatures. They will stay with you long after you read them. My favourites are
Papa’s wrench and the wind chime, The fourth movement, Adverse possession and Luxor decanted.
Beautifully haunting, a must read!
Halbert’s stories are reminiscent of Poe, Du Maurier and Maupassant, their settings strange and fantastical, their characters fascinating, their worlds full of mystery, haunted places and strange creatures. They will stay with you long after you read them. My favourites are
Papa’s wrench and the wind chime, The fourth movement, Adverse possession and Luxor decanted.
Beautifully haunting, a must read!
July 3, 2025
It seems I am not in the norm. I didn't enjoy this book at all. There may be a couple of stories I enjoyed but that's it. They didn't felt scary or even good for that matter.
When Betsy Whispers & Adverse Possession.
You may enjoy it more than me.
When Betsy Whispers & Adverse Possession.
You may enjoy it more than me.
April 15, 2020
This is an author that just popped out of nowhere and now I'm completely hooked! This is her second collection of short stories, the first is Wake Up and Smell the Creepy.
Each tale in this collection of dark, creepy and supernatural tales is very different but they are all united by their evocative atmosphere of cold dread. With each tale the tension builds up into a terror of cold dread. As a reader, it is impossible to guess either when, where or how the horror element is going to creep in. But you know its coming.
Of course all the tales in this collection were great, there honestly wasn't one story in here I didn't like which made the task of picking out faves really difficult.
My favourite tale has to be Papa's Wrench and the Wind Chimes, its up there with Adam Nevill's ability to completely terrify his readers and leave them traumatised. It starts off innocently enough with a young child going to school on the school bus but descends into some really dark waters with the Monstrum Kids climb on board. This tale is a perfect example of quiet horror exploding into an amazing finale.
When Betsy Whispers - an amazing tale to start off the collection. Probably one of the most original tales I have ever read, it is truly disturbing and thought provoking with a very unusual protagonist. When I finished this tale i knew this was going to be an amazing anthology.
Housing the Hollygobs starts off a sweet tale about remembering loved ones and silly family traditions soon turning into something much darker. The ending is brilliant!
Another firm favourite is Luxor Decanted and its superb use of imagery. A happily married couple embark to Paris for their once in a lifetime dream vacation. Years in the planning they have finally made it to soak up the arts and culture of one of Europe's finest capitals. The husband becomes drawn to an Obelisk near the Louvre, fascination soon turns to obsession.
Each tale in this collection of dark, creepy and supernatural tales is very different but they are all united by their evocative atmosphere of cold dread. With each tale the tension builds up into a terror of cold dread. As a reader, it is impossible to guess either when, where or how the horror element is going to creep in. But you know its coming.
Of course all the tales in this collection were great, there honestly wasn't one story in here I didn't like which made the task of picking out faves really difficult.
My favourite tale has to be Papa's Wrench and the Wind Chimes, its up there with Adam Nevill's ability to completely terrify his readers and leave them traumatised. It starts off innocently enough with a young child going to school on the school bus but descends into some really dark waters with the Monstrum Kids climb on board. This tale is a perfect example of quiet horror exploding into an amazing finale.
When Betsy Whispers - an amazing tale to start off the collection. Probably one of the most original tales I have ever read, it is truly disturbing and thought provoking with a very unusual protagonist. When I finished this tale i knew this was going to be an amazing anthology.
Housing the Hollygobs starts off a sweet tale about remembering loved ones and silly family traditions soon turning into something much darker. The ending is brilliant!
Another firm favourite is Luxor Decanted and its superb use of imagery. A happily married couple embark to Paris for their once in a lifetime dream vacation. Years in the planning they have finally made it to soak up the arts and culture of one of Europe's finest capitals. The husband becomes drawn to an Obelisk near the Louvre, fascination soon turns to obsession.
August 13, 2019
Cold Comforts is Marianne Halbert’s second collection of dark, supernatural, and horror short stories. I liked a few of them, the rest I loved. Not a clinker in the bunch, but because the author is adept at writing many sub-genres of horror, certain stories will work better for any given reader than others. Some of the stories are poignant, others darkly humorous, but none too extreme. What they have in common—besides the ability to make one’s skin crawl and breath short—is their highly visual nature. Ms. Halbert is masterful with her descriptions, and several of these really should be made into short films or episodes of a horror anthology show. How much did I like this book? When I was done reading it,I immediately ordered the author’s first collection, Wake Up and Smell the Creepy.
July 30, 2019
I was impressed by the variety of stories in this collection. They range from eery (“Conjuring the Corpse Candles”) to touching (“A Used Infinity”) to downright creepy (“Papa’s Wrench and the Wind Chime”). Each one was well-written, and a couple even brought me to tears at the end (“A Used Infinity,” “The Fourth Movement”). For “horror” stories to do that speaks to the skill of the author. I don’t believe horror has to be all slasher films, which some people seem to think. This collection proves that horror can be as simple as giving the reader a sense of unease. These stories will stick with me for a while. Highly recommend.
September 20, 2020
Marianne Halbert’s Cold Comforts is a haunting collection of thirteen short tales. The stories are quite varied; there’s a conscious tree, an old killer folk legend, a haunted workplace and more. These tales range from sort of quirky to hauntingly disturbing. Most of the stories are pretty short, so if you aren’t feeling one, it won’t be long before Halbert changes gears completely. Perhaps the most notable aspect of Halbert’s writing is her ability to completely submerge you in the little worlds she’s created. Despite the fact that most of these stories are less than 10 pages, Halbert’s scenes truly come to life.
Of the thirteen tales in Cold Comforts, I loved 6 of them, liked 6 of them and only one story just wasn’t for me.
-My Top Three-
When Betsy Whispers- This is a hauntingly beautiful tale about a tree. Yea, you read that right. The entire story is told from the perspective of a tree. I was skeptical at first, but this ended up being one of the most eloquent and striking stories I’ve found in a horror collection. Halbert made a great choice using this as the opening story; it really pulled me in and kept me reading.
A Bone to Pick- After suffering an injury, young Molene Meuller discovers she has an uncanny new ability. I won’t say much more, but the unique ideas and excellent execution made this a definite favorite.
A Used Infinity- A middle-aged man buys a used car, hoping it will help him turn a new leaf. When the GPS starts misbehaving, he ends up going for the ride of his life. I really enjoyed this story, though it was definitely a little on the stranger side.
-Other Stories I Loved-
Housing the Hollygobs- Two young kids visiting the country discover that there might be more to an old country folktale.
‘Neath Fallow Ground- When a young man returns to his home town after years away, he discovers a dark secret.
Adverse Possession- A man purchased some property that comes with some strange and deadly conditions.
---
Cold Comforts is a quick but engrossing read. The stories have great range, and there is sure to be something for every reader. Some are light and surreal, while others are gritty and dark; but nothing too extreme. Halbert’s ability to transport the reader into her worlds in such short stories truly keeps you turning the pages. If you’re looking for a diverse collection of unique, creative stories, give Cold Comforts a shot.
Of the thirteen tales in Cold Comforts, I loved 6 of them, liked 6 of them and only one story just wasn’t for me.
-My Top Three-
When Betsy Whispers- This is a hauntingly beautiful tale about a tree. Yea, you read that right. The entire story is told from the perspective of a tree. I was skeptical at first, but this ended up being one of the most eloquent and striking stories I’ve found in a horror collection. Halbert made a great choice using this as the opening story; it really pulled me in and kept me reading.
A Bone to Pick- After suffering an injury, young Molene Meuller discovers she has an uncanny new ability. I won’t say much more, but the unique ideas and excellent execution made this a definite favorite.
A Used Infinity- A middle-aged man buys a used car, hoping it will help him turn a new leaf. When the GPS starts misbehaving, he ends up going for the ride of his life. I really enjoyed this story, though it was definitely a little on the stranger side.
-Other Stories I Loved-
Housing the Hollygobs- Two young kids visiting the country discover that there might be more to an old country folktale.
‘Neath Fallow Ground- When a young man returns to his home town after years away, he discovers a dark secret.
Adverse Possession- A man purchased some property that comes with some strange and deadly conditions.
---
Cold Comforts is a quick but engrossing read. The stories have great range, and there is sure to be something for every reader. Some are light and surreal, while others are gritty and dark; but nothing too extreme. Halbert’s ability to transport the reader into her worlds in such short stories truly keeps you turning the pages. If you’re looking for a diverse collection of unique, creative stories, give Cold Comforts a shot.
October 28, 2020
A spooky read for the Halloween season or any time. Halbert writes quiet horror, and disturbing, haunted atmosphere well. There are thirteen tales in this collection, and each one pulled me in. From the clairvoyant girl in the morbid "A Bone To Pick," to the fairy tale folk horror of "Housing the Hollygobs," to gallows humor of corporate Hell in "Like Riding a Bicycle," the tales in this book do indeed deliver cold comforts
March 21, 2021
Atmospheric, creepy, must-read
This is a collection you’ll want to read. So atmospheric and character-driven. The story plots feel fresh and lively. Marianne Halbert proves herself an expert storyteller in COLD COMFORTS. I really enjoyed “Housing the Hollybobs” and “Bone to Pick.”
Buy now and you won’t regret it!
This is a collection you’ll want to read. So atmospheric and character-driven. The story plots feel fresh and lively. Marianne Halbert proves herself an expert storyteller in COLD COMFORTS. I really enjoyed “Housing the Hollybobs” and “Bone to Pick.”
Buy now and you won’t regret it!
February 27, 2021
a great collection of quiet horror!
May 18, 2021
Review to come.
June 27, 2023
Rating is only for the wonderful southern gothic horror story Papa's Wrench and the Wind Chime, heard on PseudoPod.
January 28, 2021
A fantastic collection of tales both terrifying and moving, a masterclass in atmosphere and character. A perfect read for a cold winter's night.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews