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Dead Lake: plus 4 extra stories
A week's visit to the remote Harob Lake cabin couldn't have come at a better time for Sam.
She's battling artist's block ahead of a major gallery exhibition. Staying at Harob Lake is her final, desperate attempt to paint the collection that could save her floundering career. It seems perfect: no neighbours, no phone, no distractions.
But the dream retreat disintegrates into a nightmare when Sam discovers she's being stalked.
A tall, strange man stands on the edge of her dock, staring intently into the swirling waters below. He starts to follow her. He disables her car. He destroys her only way to communicate with the outside world.
And Sam is beginning to suspect he's responsible for the series of disappearances from a nearby hiking trail. Stranded at Harob Lake, Sam realises she's become the prey in the hunter's deadliest game...
Included in the 2020 edition, along with the title story:
-- Whose Woods These Are
-- Mannequin
-- Hitchhiker
-- Bellamy
She's battling artist's block ahead of a major gallery exhibition. Staying at Harob Lake is her final, desperate attempt to paint the collection that could save her floundering career. It seems perfect: no neighbours, no phone, no distractions.
But the dream retreat disintegrates into a nightmare when Sam discovers she's being stalked.
A tall, strange man stands on the edge of her dock, staring intently into the swirling waters below. He starts to follow her. He disables her car. He destroys her only way to communicate with the outside world.
And Sam is beginning to suspect he's responsible for the series of disappearances from a nearby hiking trail. Stranded at Harob Lake, Sam realises she's become the prey in the hunter's deadliest game...
Included in the 2020 edition, along with the title story:
-- Whose Woods These Are
-- Mannequin
-- Hitchhiker
-- Bellamy
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2019
37 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Coates
70 books14.5k followersDarcy Coates is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen horror and suspense novels.
She lives in the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cat, and a collection of chickens. Her home is surrounded by rolling wilderness on all sides, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
You can hear about her next book by joining her newsletter: www.darcycoates.com/updates
She lives in the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cat, and a collection of chickens. Her home is surrounded by rolling wilderness on all sides, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
You can hear about her next book by joining her newsletter: www.darcycoates.com/updates
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
September 6, 2020
Another fantastic read by Ms. Darcy Coates.
Sam is a painter and has a gallery opening coming up very soon. She has not been able to paint anything of
consequence for months. Her uncle suggests to her that she may enjoy the quiet solitude of his cabin on Harob Lake. Maybe this is exactly what she needs to get her life back on track. Maybe the creative juices will flow.
Unfortunately, Sam is not alone. She sees a man standing at the edge of the dock looking into the lake. Who is this man? No one else is supposed to be here. Even her uncle had to get special permission to build on Harob Lake. Then, she finds out about the missing hikers. Does he have something to do with them?
And when night falls, more fun begins. Sam wakes most mornings to find that she has painted in her sleep. The paintings are so unnerving that Sam takes them off the easel and turns them toward the wall. The paintings are of a man with steel grey eyes that she has never seen before, yet there is something familiar about him. Why can she not remember painting any of them. What are they trying to tell her?
I like the way Ms. Coates writes. She spins a tale with just enough fear inducing intrigue that she doesn't need all the mayhem. The character of Sam was well plotted, in my opinion. The whole book focuses on her. Her thoughts. Her actions. Her survival. And do not forget the supernatural twist. You don't always need the blood, guts, and gore to have a good time (the short stories at the end are fantastic bonus. Loved every minute of it.)
Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Darcy Coates for an ARC in return for an honest review..
Sam is a painter and has a gallery opening coming up very soon. She has not been able to paint anything of
consequence for months. Her uncle suggests to her that she may enjoy the quiet solitude of his cabin on Harob Lake. Maybe this is exactly what she needs to get her life back on track. Maybe the creative juices will flow.
Unfortunately, Sam is not alone. She sees a man standing at the edge of the dock looking into the lake. Who is this man? No one else is supposed to be here. Even her uncle had to get special permission to build on Harob Lake. Then, she finds out about the missing hikers. Does he have something to do with them?
And when night falls, more fun begins. Sam wakes most mornings to find that she has painted in her sleep. The paintings are so unnerving that Sam takes them off the easel and turns them toward the wall. The paintings are of a man with steel grey eyes that she has never seen before, yet there is something familiar about him. Why can she not remember painting any of them. What are they trying to tell her?
I like the way Ms. Coates writes. She spins a tale with just enough fear inducing intrigue that she doesn't need all the mayhem. The character of Sam was well plotted, in my opinion. The whole book focuses on her. Her thoughts. Her actions. Her survival. And do not forget the supernatural twist. You don't always need the blood, guts, and gore to have a good time (the short stories at the end are fantastic bonus. Loved every minute of it.)
Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Darcy Coates for an ARC in return for an honest review..
September 27, 2022
A cozy ghost story pure and simple and I am here for it.
August 23, 2022
So I didn't realise until I started reading this that it contained short stories....I didn't read the back properly 😅 Anyway each one was very creepy in it's own way. For me, Mannequin was the scariest. It reminded very much of the Weeping Angels from Dr Who and they scared the crap out of me!
This is the first Darcy Coates book I've read and really enjoyed it - I will definitely be picking up more of her books. She was truly able to evoke anxiety with her writing style.
This is the first Darcy Coates book I've read and really enjoyed it - I will definitely be picking up more of her books. She was truly able to evoke anxiety with her writing style.
July 20, 2024
4⭐️! This is a set of short stories. I liked the other short stories better than the main story, dead lake! Dead lake was just okay, probably would have given it a 3-3.5 if this rating was just for that book. Nothing really that special or different about it. I really liked the story Bellamy, I wish it was a full length book!!! It would have made such a great detailed story. Mannequin was definitely the creepiest for me!
October 24, 2024
This was a very entertaining book with a simple plot line and intriguing build up. I like how it wasn’t too slow to start either. Normally I worry about a slow moving story but this was great. The book also includes four additional bonus stories which are really enthralling too. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good scare or who is merely interested in the supernatural. It’s not gory and it’s not over the top. It’s simple, mysterious, and I would actually look into reading more from Coates after this. Her writing style is well-paced and after the end of each of her haunting stories she gives an author’s note on her inspirations behind the piece. I can’t pick which is my favorite but Dead Lake, the Mannequin, and Bellamy were definite page turners for me. Each given story had its own creepy essence about it and they were all unique.
I would give a 4.1 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun read :)
I would give a 4.1 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun read :)
September 20, 2022
I started this book after finishing and loving "From Below" by the same author, but Dead Lake just fell flat and left me disappointed. The premise was interesting , but the story was rushed in a way that left very little room to build tension. It felt more like I was reading an average Creepypasta on the /nosleep subreddit than a horror novel from an acclaimed author. And those are free.
did-not-finish
November 9, 2022I started this one but it’s not for me. If you’re an all-plot no-character-development person, this may appeal to you, but it’s not something I’m looking for!
July 27, 2025
This was misleading for me because I thought it was just the “dead lake” story but then actually ended up being short horror stories. It was a fun surprise and I enjoyed reading it, felt like reading goosebumps as a kid. My two favorite stories were the first two.
January 18, 2026
4.5 rounded up!
March 29, 2022
I freely and wholeheartedly admit that I picked up this book because it was cheap ($1.99 at my local Goodwill store) and I know I can probably turn around, sell it, and make a decent profit. I also snagged it because it was relatively short and I needed something quick and easy. Having read one Darcy Coates novel before (and seeing her name plastered pretty much everywhere amongst the many horror bookstagramers I follow) I figured I had nothing to lose.
I guess my biggest surprise is that this version of Dead Lake is actually a collection of short stories and title novella and not just one long story.
All of the stories here are at least halfway decent. “Dead Lake” is obviously the strongest (and longest) of the bunch. Creepy and tense and leaving the reader guessing up until
the last couple pages. Even with an ending that felt rushed, I could easily see this as a horror film.
I also thoroughly enjoyed “Mannequin” as it too evokes some super creepy vibes which would also translate to a fun PG13 YA horror movie.
“Bellamy” could have been great with its tropes on children’s asylums and a fun twist ending, though it borders on being a bit too long, losing its flow about halfway through.
Both “Hitchhiker” and “Whose Woods These Are” are ok, but, overall, kind of get lost in the shuffle as they aren’t quite strong enough to be remembered.
Overall though, I can’t complain. For 2 bucks, you can do a lot worse. So, In conclusion, I was correct and lost nothing in picking up Dead Lake…and that’s always a plus.
I guess my biggest surprise is that this version of Dead Lake is actually a collection of short stories and title novella and not just one long story.
All of the stories here are at least halfway decent. “Dead Lake” is obviously the strongest (and longest) of the bunch. Creepy and tense and leaving the reader guessing up until
the last couple pages. Even with an ending that felt rushed, I could easily see this as a horror film.
I also thoroughly enjoyed “Mannequin” as it too evokes some super creepy vibes which would also translate to a fun PG13 YA horror movie.
“Bellamy” could have been great with its tropes on children’s asylums and a fun twist ending, though it borders on being a bit too long, losing its flow about halfway through.
Both “Hitchhiker” and “Whose Woods These Are” are ok, but, overall, kind of get lost in the shuffle as they aren’t quite strong enough to be remembered.
Overall though, I can’t complain. For 2 bucks, you can do a lot worse. So, In conclusion, I was correct and lost nothing in picking up Dead Lake…and that’s always a plus.
January 2, 2021
Amazing collection. Had me scared and I don’t scare easily.
April 5, 2024
Another EXCELLENT novel from Darcy Coates! I loved the MC and the utter confusion we see as she continues to experience things that she can't explain. Even I didn't see that explanation coming in the end! Great suspense throughout! I'm really loving Darcy's writing style and character development!
The 4 short stories were a fantastic bonus that I didn't even realize I was getting until I sat down and opened the book! I thoroughly enjoyed each one, as well as the little author's note that follows each one, explaining a bit about where her idea for the stories originated.
Whose Woods Are These is about a young woman who goes on a solo camping trip in remembrance of her dad. Upon arrival, she's surprised to find the woods surrounded by a chain link fence, which makes one wonder - is that to keep someone out, or in??? Darcy does a great job building suspense as the short story progresses. This was definitely my favorite of the bonus stories.
Next up was Mannequin and talk about CREEPY! All I'll say about this one is... if you weren't already creeped out by mannequins, you might be after you read this!
Hitchhiker wants to remind you that you shouldn't always judge a book by its cover.
Bellamy is the final short story and turns out to have a bit of a twist at the end.
The 4 short stories were a fantastic bonus that I didn't even realize I was getting until I sat down and opened the book! I thoroughly enjoyed each one, as well as the little author's note that follows each one, explaining a bit about where her idea for the stories originated.
Whose Woods Are These is about a young woman who goes on a solo camping trip in remembrance of her dad. Upon arrival, she's surprised to find the woods surrounded by a chain link fence, which makes one wonder - is that to keep someone out, or in??? Darcy does a great job building suspense as the short story progresses. This was definitely my favorite of the bonus stories.
Next up was Mannequin and talk about CREEPY! All I'll say about this one is... if you weren't already creeped out by mannequins, you might be after you read this!
Hitchhiker wants to remind you that you shouldn't always judge a book by its cover.
Bellamy is the final short story and turns out to have a bit of a twist at the end.
January 2, 2026
Dead Lake had all the eerie ingredients I usually love from Darcy Coates, and while I enjoyed the experience overall, it didn’t quite deliver the full horror punch I was hoping for. The lake setting is atmospheric and unsettling, instantly giving off that creepy, isolated vibe, however Dead Lake felt more thriller than horror.
Each story carries that familiar creeping dread, but the short story format made it harder for the suspense to really sink in. Just as the tension started to build, the story would end, leaving less room for that slow-burn fear Coates does so well in her longer novels.
That said, it was still an enjoyable read with some genuinely spooky moments. It felt more like a collection of quick chills than a deeply immersive horror — perfect for dipping in and out of, but not one that will haunt me long after finishing.
Each story carries that familiar creeping dread, but the short story format made it harder for the suspense to really sink in. Just as the tension started to build, the story would end, leaving less room for that slow-burn fear Coates does so well in her longer novels.
That said, it was still an enjoyable read with some genuinely spooky moments. It felt more like a collection of quick chills than a deeply immersive horror — perfect for dipping in and out of, but not one that will haunt me long after finishing.
January 29, 2025
I didn’t know when picking this up I’d have the joy of reading 5 different stories! The main one, Dead Lake, was good enough. Had the suspense and thrills. But I think my favorite of the stories was Mannequin. For how short it was, I was on the edge of my seat. The last story was also very good, but I did guess the twist, sort of… you’ll have to read it yourself! Overall I had fun with these stories and look forward to more from this author.
June 15, 2025
This was my first Darcy Coates book and it definitely won’t be my last! I didn’t realize that this was a compilation of short stories when I picked this up, but I had such a fun time with this one! My favorite short story was “Mannequin”, gave me the heebie jeebies!
September 11, 2023
Read this in one day had me
terrified the entire book
terrified the entire book
August 11, 2024
Loved this! Darcy Coates never fails to creep me out and I love her for that. She writes these characters into scenes that just give you the heeby jeebies and it is so fun. Her stories are always so haunting and ominous and that is why I keep coming back for more. Dead Lake really made me want to never ever camp alone.
October 6, 2024
Not my favorite by Darcy Coates but all of the stories in here are good campfire ghost stories!
August 26, 2025
The original book was slightly boring to me. I liked the short stories more. They were creepy
August 13, 2024
Dead Lake: 4.5/5
Whose Woods are These: 3/5
Mannequin:3/5
Hitchhike:1/5
Bellamy:4/5
Whose Woods are These: 3/5
Mannequin:3/5
Hitchhike:1/5
Bellamy:4/5
August 8, 2023
3.5⭐️
The first story “Dead Lake” was an edge of your seat thriller that made me feel creeped out and a sense of dread - I loved it. I figured out who the man was as soon as his name was mentioned and I found the victims spirit helping the protagonist’s part to be a little overdone, but I did like the way of using the paintings as a type of hint/communication. The snuggling in the bed seemed to be a strange choice though. Overall I liked the story and it kept me interested.
The second story “Whose Woods These Are” I felt was a bit to similar to the first so I wish it would’ve been out at the end of the book instead to have som separation. I just read a story of a woman staying alone in the woods mourning their dead parent and feeling like they are being watched - why am I reading it again? The story is different in a lot of ways so I think just putting it in a different order would’ve been better. I liked the creepy girl creature and the fact the main character didn’t get away but her discovering the creature in the backseat of her car felt too cliche. It was an entertaining story but wasn’t amazing. I did enjoy the slowly opening the zipper which is kindof cliche but it works for a reason, it adds a good sense of dread.
Mannequin was another cliche story that I feel like has been told before but it was still a fun and entertaining read, the ending reminded me of the gnome episode of goosebumps which was cool. It did leave a few questions of wanting to know more which is what a horror short story should do. It does have a good level of creep factor!
I’m not a fan of groundhog’s day type stories so Hitchhiker wasn’t my thing.
And I feel like Bellamy doesn’t work as a short story, it feels like it should be a whole to get you invested in these characters so you care about them going into it and have an emotional pull to it, but it being condensed into a short story. I just didn’t care for it. It was a good idea but I just didn’t like the execution.
The first story “Dead Lake” was an edge of your seat thriller that made me feel creeped out and a sense of dread - I loved it. I figured out who the man was as soon as his name was mentioned and I found the victims spirit helping the protagonist’s part to be a little overdone, but I did like the way of using the paintings as a type of hint/communication. The snuggling in the bed seemed to be a strange choice though. Overall I liked the story and it kept me interested.
The second story “Whose Woods These Are” I felt was a bit to similar to the first so I wish it would’ve been out at the end of the book instead to have som separation. I just read a story of a woman staying alone in the woods mourning their dead parent and feeling like they are being watched - why am I reading it again? The story is different in a lot of ways so I think just putting it in a different order would’ve been better. I liked the creepy girl creature and the fact the main character didn’t get away but her discovering the creature in the backseat of her car felt too cliche. It was an entertaining story but wasn’t amazing. I did enjoy the slowly opening the zipper which is kindof cliche but it works for a reason, it adds a good sense of dread.
Mannequin was another cliche story that I feel like has been told before but it was still a fun and entertaining read, the ending reminded me of the gnome episode of goosebumps which was cool. It did leave a few questions of wanting to know more which is what a horror short story should do. It does have a good level of creep factor!
I’m not a fan of groundhog’s day type stories so Hitchhiker wasn’t my thing.
And I feel like Bellamy doesn’t work as a short story, it feels like it should be a whole to get you invested in these characters so you care about them going into it and have an emotional pull to it, but it being condensed into a short story. I just didn’t care for it. It was a good idea but I just didn’t like the execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2023
OMG the cheese. This reads like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Degrassi got together and had a PG rated pre-teen horror baby. I think the author is afraid of violence or anything visceral. It’s easy to see where the stories are going. Nothing unexpected really happens. And the first story is like a bad fan fic for the 80’s movie Ghost. Ian is Patric Swaze and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. The whole spooning with a friendly lake corpse and Swayze-esque erotic Ghost painting stuff….”paint my like one of your crazed Mountain Men, Jack!” Sam is Scream Queen dumb. You’re from the city!! Not po-dunk Pleasantville. How do you not think to lock a door behind you??? NOTHING is left unexplained. You’re spoon fed EVERYTHING. There are also authors notes after each story which are just painful to read and add nothing to the story. Uncanny Valley is the term you were uncomfortably dancing around in your notes after Mannequin. I think if this was young adult horror it would make sense…but to be honest R.L. Stein Goosebumps books are edgier than this. The old Fear Street books make this read like Nancy Drew.
I am not an author, I am not a scholar. I am just a random girl giving her unfiltered opinion of a book. I may be wrong. Maybe this is the best book ever and I should just jump off a broken jacked up pier into Lake People Soup. Maybe Darcy will show up at my door to punch me in the face for not liking her book. I’ll give the author another chance later down the line but I need a pallet cleanser after this.
I am not an author, I am not a scholar. I am just a random girl giving her unfiltered opinion of a book. I may be wrong. Maybe this is the best book ever and I should just jump off a broken jacked up pier into Lake People Soup. Maybe Darcy will show up at my door to punch me in the face for not liking her book. I’ll give the author another chance later down the line but I need a pallet cleanser after this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2020
An entertaining horror story that manages to hold your attention while not overworking the details.
Dead Lake is a 3-star horror story through and through. It has all the tropes many readers find satisfying. It has a well-paced timeline. It doesn't make you work too hard to enjoy the story.
On the other hand, it also does not take the time it could to offer all the delightful detail the plot could easily handle. I would very much enjoy seeing this story fully fleshed out, as the plot was so enjoyable for a typical reader of the genre.
Review copy provided by NetGalley
Dead Lake is a 3-star horror story through and through. It has all the tropes many readers find satisfying. It has a well-paced timeline. It doesn't make you work too hard to enjoy the story.
On the other hand, it also does not take the time it could to offer all the delightful detail the plot could easily handle. I would very much enjoy seeing this story fully fleshed out, as the plot was so enjoyable for a typical reader of the genre.
Review copy provided by NetGalley
January 5, 2021
Not a bad, shorter story. Very simialar to other books I have read though it seemed. In a cabin, nobody around, bad things happen. Sort of predictable. Still an enjoyable read, idk if I would read it again though.
September 1, 2022
I felt like I was right there with Sam in that cabin. This is a great simple short horror story. Most definitely worth the read!
January 11, 2024
4/5 ✩
Full disclosure, I’m a fool who didn’t realize this was a book of short stories when I first picked it up, so that has impacted my perspective on these stories just a little. However, I still quite enjoyed the majority of the stories.
Dead Lake
Dead Lake is a story that highlights all the things I really enjoy about Coates’ work. Her style of horror story is accessible, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to try out paranormal horror - it’s not too scary, in my opinion, so it's great for those that don’t want anything too spooky. Coates’ work, for me, is what I would call comfy horror - it has familiar tropes and predictable elements, which actually make for a very fun and easy story. The familiarity and predictability don’t detract from the quality or the plot, they just make for a comfortable, easy, and slightly scary story.
Dead Lake feels so familiar - it reminded me of classic horror from the 1970s. The setting, the premise, the character elements were so easy to settle into. Despite the predictability, which I mentioned above, I still found myself surprised by the twist, which worked very well. There were moments that were genuinely scary, there were moments that were fun, and there were moments that were tense. Although I wasn’t a fan of the protagonist, Sam, who felt boring compared to the leads in other Coates’ works, I was able to look past that and enjoy the story. I think it would have made a wonderful full-length novel, though, so I am disappointed by just how quickly the story ended.
Whose Woods are These
Whose Woods are These initially didn’t interest me. I didn’t enjoy the setup or the protagonist, however, the atmosphere quickly won me over. This story utilized a lore and trope that I personally find unsettling, so that made for great tension building. This was a quick but creepy read, and the ending was exactly what I wanted it to be, so that was very satisfying.
Mannequin
The title of this story makes it pretty clear what type of fear is being utilized, so I already went in with a preconceived notion. This is a type of horror that Coates doesn’t generally write about, as far as I know, so it was interesting to see her try her hand at something different. This story was certainly creepy and if I were actually in this scenario I would be terrified, but as a reader I just found this story to be underwhelming. Better in theory than in practice.
Hitchhiker
Much like Mannequin, this short story has a title that suggests its elements, and I also found myself to be underwhelmed by it. Again, Hitchhiker was also different from the works that I’ve read from Coates so far, so I appreciate that she tries her hand at different things. But to me, Hitchhiker was just boring.
Bellamy
I’m so glad that this collection ended with Bellamy, as I adored this story. I loved that this wasn’t outright horror, but rather contemplative, somber, and gothic. The setup at the beginning led me to think that this would be a haunted asylum type of story, but I’m so glad that it took an unexpected turn. The atmosphere of this story was so engaging, and rather than being scary it was sorrowful and melancholic (although it did have a decent scare or two in there). I think this story was incredibly engaging, and it would have made a fantastic full-length story, which makes me mourn the novel it could have been.
Full disclosure, I’m a fool who didn’t realize this was a book of short stories when I first picked it up, so that has impacted my perspective on these stories just a little. However, I still quite enjoyed the majority of the stories.
Dead Lake
Dead Lake is a story that highlights all the things I really enjoy about Coates’ work. Her style of horror story is accessible, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to try out paranormal horror - it’s not too scary, in my opinion, so it's great for those that don’t want anything too spooky. Coates’ work, for me, is what I would call comfy horror - it has familiar tropes and predictable elements, which actually make for a very fun and easy story. The familiarity and predictability don’t detract from the quality or the plot, they just make for a comfortable, easy, and slightly scary story.
Dead Lake feels so familiar - it reminded me of classic horror from the 1970s. The setting, the premise, the character elements were so easy to settle into. Despite the predictability, which I mentioned above, I still found myself surprised by the twist, which worked very well. There were moments that were genuinely scary, there were moments that were fun, and there were moments that were tense. Although I wasn’t a fan of the protagonist, Sam, who felt boring compared to the leads in other Coates’ works, I was able to look past that and enjoy the story. I think it would have made a wonderful full-length novel, though, so I am disappointed by just how quickly the story ended.
Whose Woods are These
Whose Woods are These initially didn’t interest me. I didn’t enjoy the setup or the protagonist, however, the atmosphere quickly won me over. This story utilized a lore and trope that I personally find unsettling, so that made for great tension building. This was a quick but creepy read, and the ending was exactly what I wanted it to be, so that was very satisfying.
Mannequin
The title of this story makes it pretty clear what type of fear is being utilized, so I already went in with a preconceived notion. This is a type of horror that Coates doesn’t generally write about, as far as I know, so it was interesting to see her try her hand at something different. This story was certainly creepy and if I were actually in this scenario I would be terrified, but as a reader I just found this story to be underwhelming. Better in theory than in practice.
Hitchhiker
Much like Mannequin, this short story has a title that suggests its elements, and I also found myself to be underwhelmed by it. Again, Hitchhiker was also different from the works that I’ve read from Coates so far, so I appreciate that she tries her hand at different things. But to me, Hitchhiker was just boring.
Bellamy
I’m so glad that this collection ended with Bellamy, as I adored this story. I loved that this wasn’t outright horror, but rather contemplative, somber, and gothic. The setup at the beginning led me to think that this would be a haunted asylum type of story, but I’m so glad that it took an unexpected turn. The atmosphere of this story was so engaging, and rather than being scary it was sorrowful and melancholic (although it did have a decent scare or two in there). I think this story was incredibly engaging, and it would have made a fantastic full-length story, which makes me mourn the novel it could have been.
April 11, 2025
3.75 ⭐️’s average and rounded up
A break down of ratings-
Dead Lake: 3.75 ⭐️’s
Whose Woods These Are: 3.25 ⭐️’s
Mannequin: 5 ⭐️’s
Hitchhiker: 2.75 ⭐️’s
Bellamy 4 ⭐️’s
=3.75 average
I’ve been obsessed with Darcy Coates recently and was pleasantly surprised to see that this included 4 short stories. Mannequin and Bellamy were my clear favorites. Can’t wait to read more from her
SPOILERS for each story ahead:
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Dead lake-
A good old classic “ghost helps solve his own murder and helps someone escape the same fate”story. It actually had me tearing up at the end when the ghost was saying goodbye to Sam. Kind of can’t stop wondering about her uncle and how he’s never ran into this serial killer before?? Overall, great story and really enjoyed
Whose woods these are-
It was a good and interesting story, wasn’t my favorite writing of hers though. I want to know more about the monster. What it is, how it got there, the stories of all the people going missing and interviews of the people who lived to tell the tale. And how did it get out of the gate and follow her into the car. Maybe it went over my head, but I definitely liked the story and would’ve liked to see more of it
Mannequin-
This was my absolute star of the show. The best written short story in this book. Can honestly say this short story has scared and unnerved me more than any horror book I’ve read so far. I hate and am extremely terrified of dolls (especially in the dark) and mannequins are essentially giant dolls. Might be a deep, suppressed memory for me, but I feel like there was a similar episode of the twilight zone that I saw as a kid.
Would love a full length book based on this short story. How did the original mannequin get there and become one? Was the dude renting the basement out behind it all? I need to know more, but also kinda don’t want to cause I’m scared 😂
Hitchhiker-
I don’t have many thoughts on this story. It was pretty good, but overall in my opinion isn’t the best example of her work. It was very short and instead of the person picking her up being the dangerous thing in the story, it was a sinkhole but in the style of Groundhog Day where you essentially have a restart button?
Bellamy-
This one was surprising for me. Unexpectedly beautiful, and had tears rolling down my face while reading the last 2 pages. I could see this being a movie that I’d watch over and over. I could so perfectly visualize the house and how it changed from hallways getting mixed up to it eventually showing the decay that Grace was hiding. Also really wasn’t expecting Grace to be the villain at the end.
Ooh I loved this one
A break down of ratings-
Dead Lake: 3.75 ⭐️’s
Whose Woods These Are: 3.25 ⭐️’s
Mannequin: 5 ⭐️’s
Hitchhiker: 2.75 ⭐️’s
Bellamy 4 ⭐️’s
=3.75 average
I’ve been obsessed with Darcy Coates recently and was pleasantly surprised to see that this included 4 short stories. Mannequin and Bellamy were my clear favorites. Can’t wait to read more from her
SPOILERS for each story ahead:
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Dead lake-
A good old classic “ghost helps solve his own murder and helps someone escape the same fate”story. It actually had me tearing up at the end when the ghost was saying goodbye to Sam. Kind of can’t stop wondering about her uncle and how he’s never ran into this serial killer before?? Overall, great story and really enjoyed
Whose woods these are-
It was a good and interesting story, wasn’t my favorite writing of hers though. I want to know more about the monster. What it is, how it got there, the stories of all the people going missing and interviews of the people who lived to tell the tale. And how did it get out of the gate and follow her into the car. Maybe it went over my head, but I definitely liked the story and would’ve liked to see more of it
Mannequin-
This was my absolute star of the show. The best written short story in this book. Can honestly say this short story has scared and unnerved me more than any horror book I’ve read so far. I hate and am extremely terrified of dolls (especially in the dark) and mannequins are essentially giant dolls. Might be a deep, suppressed memory for me, but I feel like there was a similar episode of the twilight zone that I saw as a kid.
Would love a full length book based on this short story. How did the original mannequin get there and become one? Was the dude renting the basement out behind it all? I need to know more, but also kinda don’t want to cause I’m scared 😂
Hitchhiker-
I don’t have many thoughts on this story. It was pretty good, but overall in my opinion isn’t the best example of her work. It was very short and instead of the person picking her up being the dangerous thing in the story, it was a sinkhole but in the style of Groundhog Day where you essentially have a restart button?
Bellamy-
This one was surprising for me. Unexpectedly beautiful, and had tears rolling down my face while reading the last 2 pages. I could see this being a movie that I’d watch over and over. I could so perfectly visualize the house and how it changed from hallways getting mixed up to it eventually showing the decay that Grace was hiding. Also really wasn’t expecting Grace to be the villain at the end.
Ooh I loved this one
May 8, 2023
First book I've read by this author and already picked up another, so the tl;dr is that it was good and I enjoyed the author's writing style a lot.
Lots of reviewers seem to be mistaking the book version of just Dead Lake for this version which contains Dead Lake and 4 additional stories, so if you're going to purchase this book (or others by this author) make sure you pay attention.
So yeah, it's really nice to find a new horror author that I enjoy. This is about a 250 page book where Dead Lake, the titular story, is about half that length. Well-paced and creepy, the story features a common setup (woman heads to isolated cabin on a lake for a week to clear her head and get some work done) and creepy shenanigans ensue. Overall, a good time, nothing too new in terms of the story but it was a good read.
Whose Woods These Are is our second story and much shorter. Again, kind of a typical setup of woman heads into forest to camp for the night, strange stuff happens, omg monster gonna nom me. Short and sweet.
Mannequin is our third story. Super creepy, as mannequins tend to be, of course.
Hitchiker is next and although it was the shortest story it also had, I think, the most unique twist. You can probably guess some of the tale based on the title of this one, but it does not end up where you would expect it to. Really liked it.
Bellamy is the final story and the second longest at about 50 pages. This one splits the narrative with a flashback from 30 years prior and is also pretty good and I missed the twist in this one. I thought I knew who the big bad was, but I was quite mistaken.
All in all a fun collection of stories. Darcy writes tension pretty well and captures creepiness rather nicely. Already picked up another of her books and unless the writing falls off a cliff will probably continue.
Lots of reviewers seem to be mistaking the book version of just Dead Lake for this version which contains Dead Lake and 4 additional stories, so if you're going to purchase this book (or others by this author) make sure you pay attention.
So yeah, it's really nice to find a new horror author that I enjoy. This is about a 250 page book where Dead Lake, the titular story, is about half that length. Well-paced and creepy, the story features a common setup (woman heads to isolated cabin on a lake for a week to clear her head and get some work done) and creepy shenanigans ensue. Overall, a good time, nothing too new in terms of the story but it was a good read.
Whose Woods These Are is our second story and much shorter. Again, kind of a typical setup of woman heads into forest to camp for the night, strange stuff happens, omg monster gonna nom me. Short and sweet.
Mannequin is our third story. Super creepy, as mannequins tend to be, of course.
Hitchiker is next and although it was the shortest story it also had, I think, the most unique twist. You can probably guess some of the tale based on the title of this one, but it does not end up where you would expect it to. Really liked it.
Bellamy is the final story and the second longest at about 50 pages. This one splits the narrative with a flashback from 30 years prior and is also pretty good and I missed the twist in this one. I thought I knew who the big bad was, but I was quite mistaken.
All in all a fun collection of stories. Darcy writes tension pretty well and captures creepiness rather nicely. Already picked up another of her books and unless the writing falls off a cliff will probably continue.
June 24, 2023
Here’s the thing- Darcy Coates knows how to creep me out. I didn’t realize when I grabbed a copy of Dead Lake that it’s essentially a collection of short stories. Dead Lake is the main story, coming in at 115 pages. It is about Sam, a woman who is spending a week at her uncle’s secluded cabin on a lake. She sees a man on the dock when no one else is supposed to be in the area. This man seems to be stalking her in the days that follow and she learns that hikers have been disappearing in the area for years. This story definitely has the creep factor and had me holding my breath as I read part of it. It was suspenseful and a perfect ghost story, in my opinion. Whose Woods These Are is a classic ghost story, following Anna as she goes camping in the woods her parents took her to as a child. Her father has passed away and she wants to honor him with one last visit to Morrow Woods. But things have changed since her childhood and something sinister now lives in these woods. Mannequin tells the story of a college student who has just broken up with his girlfriend and moves into the basement of a house. The basement has been used for storage and has a lifelike mannequin that somehow keeps moving in the dark. Hitchhiker follows a young woman whose car has broken down and she is walking to the nearest town. A stranger pulls up beside her to check on her and things get weird from there. Bellamy is about a children’s home that was run by two older women. Leanne lived there as a child and has returned thirty years later in the hopes of ending the nightmares she still lives with. This is a solid collection of stories and I give it 4/5 stars.
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July 8, 2023
“Dead Lake” features five short stories - Dead Lake, Whose Woods These Are, Mannequin, Hitchhiker, and Bellamy. Starting off with Dead Lake, Sam escapes to her uncle’s secluded cabin in the woods for much needed solitude, but is she truly alone? She is told to not stand on the dock because the wood is rotten, but is there a more sinister reason why? Hikers keep disappearing from the trail near her cabin too. Will Sam be next?
Whose Woods These Are: A woman returns to the woods she grew up camping in to remember her father, but now the campsites are gone and a fence surrounds the woods. What is the fence for?
Mannequin: A college student rents a basement room from a friend’s uncle with a creepy mannequin stored amongst the boxes.
Hitchhiker: When a woman finds herself stranded on a long dirt road she must choose the safest path to get to the nearest town, or be forced to try again.
Bellamy: A woman returns to her childhood asylum, now abandoned, where her brother and other children disappeared from years ago to learn of the truth behind the disappearances.
“Dead Lake” is a great read for fans of Jason Rekulak’s “Hidden Pictures” but overall I found the story to be anti-climatic compared to Coates’ other short stories. Similar to the “Haunting of Gillespie House”, I enjoyed the additional short stories more than the primary story. Coates does provide the creepy/unsettling feeling that she normally does in all her books. “Dead Lake” is worth the read if you are a Coates fan.
Whose Woods These Are: A woman returns to the woods she grew up camping in to remember her father, but now the campsites are gone and a fence surrounds the woods. What is the fence for?
Mannequin: A college student rents a basement room from a friend’s uncle with a creepy mannequin stored amongst the boxes.
Hitchhiker: When a woman finds herself stranded on a long dirt road she must choose the safest path to get to the nearest town, or be forced to try again.
Bellamy: A woman returns to her childhood asylum, now abandoned, where her brother and other children disappeared from years ago to learn of the truth behind the disappearances.
“Dead Lake” is a great read for fans of Jason Rekulak’s “Hidden Pictures” but overall I found the story to be anti-climatic compared to Coates’ other short stories. Similar to the “Haunting of Gillespie House”, I enjoyed the additional short stories more than the primary story. Coates does provide the creepy/unsettling feeling that she normally does in all her books. “Dead Lake” is worth the read if you are a Coates fan.
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