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The Horror Zine's Book of Ghost Stories
Twenty-six brand-new tales of ghosts, spirits, and the afterlife to chill even the most hardened reader to their very marrow. Grandmasters and newcomers alike serve well to petrify with stories to keep you lying awake in the dead of night - long after the last of the light has died - listening for that telltale scratching at the door, a soft whisper of disembodied voices, and the icy caress of long-dead fingers upon your ankle…
The Horror Zine’s Book of Ghost Stories is delighted to present to you original, never before seen, spine-tingling tales from Bentley LIttle, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Graham Masterton with Dawn G. Harris, Tim Waggoner, and the very best up and coming writers in the genre. Includes a foreword by Lisa Morton...
The Horror Zine’s Book of Ghost Stories is delighted to present to you original, never before seen, spine-tingling tales from Bentley LIttle, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Graham Masterton with Dawn G. Harris, Tim Waggoner, and the very best up and coming writers in the genre. Includes a foreword by Lisa Morton...
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2020
82 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 23, 2020
This is a wonderfully spooky collection of ghost stories and hauntings, from well-known to lesser-known authors, that I would highly recommend to anyone with a penchant for dark tales. There is lots of horror as well as sadness, trauma and otherworldly creatures - many with surprising twists and turns.
From nearly 30 stories, I rated most of them 4 or 5 stars. My favorites were A Strange Girl, Vacuum, The Boy From El Salvador, Something to Nibble On and The White Road.
From nearly 30 stories, I rated most of them 4 or 5 stars. My favorites were A Strange Girl, Vacuum, The Boy From El Salvador, Something to Nibble On and The White Road.
August 23, 2020
It’s easy to get lost in this collection of stories that range from creepy to grim. I’ve always been a fan of short stories especially horror and this collection was a delight. Ghosts, ghost hunters, misplaced souls and sinister spectres, this anthology has it all.
With so much on offer, it’s difficult to pick a favourite, but I’ve always been a fan of Bentley Little so The Boy from El Salvador was a real treat. I was also captured by Proof of Afterlife by Derek Austin Johnson – some ghost are hungry!
Read if you dare.
With so much on offer, it’s difficult to pick a favourite, but I’ve always been a fan of Bentley Little so The Boy from El Salvador was a real treat. I was also captured by Proof of Afterlife by Derek Austin Johnson – some ghost are hungry!
Read if you dare.
August 16, 2020
If you like ghost stories then this is the book for you, if you like scary, horror stories then this is the book for you! Why does a ghost represent fear to us? Maybe because they defy nature, they just shouldn’t be. “Ghosts represent our deep seated fear that in the after life we suffer by reliving our own personal failings over and over again.”
This includes stories by authors I have read before and some new-to-me authors. There are a wide variety of ghosts and their own personal failings here and I am sure, like me, you will have some that will creep you out, scare you more, push your own personal horror button! A few that made me shiver were-The Pale Man by Theresa Jacobs, A Strange Girl by Maureen O’Leary, Sal’s Requiem by Sebastian Crow(pulled at my heart strings), Something To Nibble On by Christian A. Larson. All the ghost stories are ghostly and this is one to grab and enjoy!
This includes stories by authors I have read before and some new-to-me authors. There are a wide variety of ghosts and their own personal failings here and I am sure, like me, you will have some that will creep you out, scare you more, push your own personal horror button! A few that made me shiver were-The Pale Man by Theresa Jacobs, A Strange Girl by Maureen O’Leary, Sal’s Requiem by Sebastian Crow(pulled at my heart strings), Something To Nibble On by Christian A. Larson. All the ghost stories are ghostly and this is one to grab and enjoy!
September 8, 2020
What a fiendishly delightful compilation of short stories! As with any collection, some were stronger than others but all had unique merits. My favorite story was The Boy who cut the Mustard. I don't believe in spoilers so you'll have to read it yourself to find out why. The best part of reading short stories is that cliffhanging end leaving you feeling surprised, disgusted, relieved or so terrified you're looking over your shoulder. This book is full of those.
I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2022
Had high hopes for this one, but sadly, there were only a few standout stories in this one. A majority of the stories, at least for me, just fizzled.
September 19, 2020
You would think that with twenty six stories revolving ghost that the stories would get predictable and boring. NOPE.
All of the writers were new to me so I had no idea what to expect and in a way I feel like it helped me enter this book unbiased. Each of these stories bring their own flair. Each are written in such a great way with so many different POVs and views.
My personal favorite out of these is The Pale Man. The horror beats hit every time and that ghost is just downright scary.
All of the writers were new to me so I had no idea what to expect and in a way I feel like it helped me enter this book unbiased. Each of these stories bring their own flair. Each are written in such a great way with so many different POVs and views.
My personal favorite out of these is The Pale Man. The horror beats hit every time and that ghost is just downright scary.
August 6, 2020
I enjoyed reading the The Horror Zine's Book of Ghost Stories anthology of 26 short ghost stories. Edited by Jeani Reactor and David Wild and published by Hellbound Books, this nicely assembled set of stories gave me some new things to think about. All the tales were fairly short, so one can either savor them one at a time with a break, or easily get pulled into reading several in one sitting. Especially good with a sleeping cat (or other pet) nearby!
Each reader will pick out 3-4 favorites, and they would be different for each reader; these stories range from outright supernatural to psychologically-driven hauntings, from perspectives of the haunted to that of the haunter, from active ghostly remnants to those haunters which seem helpless to stop a frozen circumstance in their tragic time.
In my case, while I tend to favor deep-questioning and very unsettling horror, I found a few unexpected stand-outs (for me). Katie Robinson's "Scratching", which focused on the seemingly endless insomnia that can come with a haunting, really moved me at the unexpected resolution. "The Expectant One", by Quinn Parker, pissed me off (in a good way) because of the all-around unfairness that can happen to those haunted by someone whose anger is so outward bound and pervasive. "Scarlet Ribbons", by Kitty Kane, came the closest (for me) to the old scary 'let's scare each other with ghost stories' that I remember from childhood - and with a ghost who has a both simple desire and deeply emotional need to be recognized and resolved. Tim Waggoner's "The White Road" considered the afterlife from the perspective of a newly deceased man who found that his hopes for fading into nothingness was challenged by an unlikely 'haunter of those who die' - this one was a BRRR for me.
There is really something for everone who likes ghostly tales in here, with a lot of psychologically-driven aspects of haunting and being haunted. In a way, this book is about more than supernatural events and fears; characters on both sides of the equation are facing their own humanity, fears, misdeeds, and need to listen to their own intuition (and what happens if you don't). Be wary of not paying attention to your deep-seated sense that something is wrong!
I am looking forward to a second (and hopefully more!) volume to be a companion to this anthology. Get your own copy, which you can enjoy then revisit again and again!
Each reader will pick out 3-4 favorites, and they would be different for each reader; these stories range from outright supernatural to psychologically-driven hauntings, from perspectives of the haunted to that of the haunter, from active ghostly remnants to those haunters which seem helpless to stop a frozen circumstance in their tragic time.
In my case, while I tend to favor deep-questioning and very unsettling horror, I found a few unexpected stand-outs (for me). Katie Robinson's "Scratching", which focused on the seemingly endless insomnia that can come with a haunting, really moved me at the unexpected resolution. "The Expectant One", by Quinn Parker, pissed me off (in a good way) because of the all-around unfairness that can happen to those haunted by someone whose anger is so outward bound and pervasive. "Scarlet Ribbons", by Kitty Kane, came the closest (for me) to the old scary 'let's scare each other with ghost stories' that I remember from childhood - and with a ghost who has a both simple desire and deeply emotional need to be recognized and resolved. Tim Waggoner's "The White Road" considered the afterlife from the perspective of a newly deceased man who found that his hopes for fading into nothingness was challenged by an unlikely 'haunter of those who die' - this one was a BRRR for me.
There is really something for everone who likes ghostly tales in here, with a lot of psychologically-driven aspects of haunting and being haunted. In a way, this book is about more than supernatural events and fears; characters on both sides of the equation are facing their own humanity, fears, misdeeds, and need to listen to their own intuition (and what happens if you don't). Be wary of not paying attention to your deep-seated sense that something is wrong!
I am looking forward to a second (and hopefully more!) volume to be a companion to this anthology. Get your own copy, which you can enjoy then revisit again and again!
September 1, 2020
I always look forward to reading a new anthology especially of ghost stories. There is such a variety in this book, there is something for everyone with a particular taste in spookiness.
The book begins with a poem by D.J.Tyrer called 'Haunted House' which I liked. It ends with the line,
'... unhappy souls, Looking at a world that passed them by.' which seems an apt phrase for the stories to follow.
Some favourites include 'The Boy From El Salvador', by Bentley Little. An unusual and enjoyable ghost story set at border control. As a magic fan I looked forward to'Houdini's Last Seance' by J.T. Siems It was a scary and well written tale. I also enjoyed Scarlet Ribbons by Kitty Kane. Ghost stories involving twins always interest me.
There are many more great tales in this anthology. If you like ghost stories with variety this is for you.
The book begins with a poem by D.J.Tyrer called 'Haunted House' which I liked. It ends with the line,
'... unhappy souls, Looking at a world that passed them by.' which seems an apt phrase for the stories to follow.
Some favourites include 'The Boy From El Salvador', by Bentley Little. An unusual and enjoyable ghost story set at border control. As a magic fan I looked forward to'Houdini's Last Seance' by J.T. Siems It was a scary and well written tale. I also enjoyed Scarlet Ribbons by Kitty Kane. Ghost stories involving twins always interest me.
There are many more great tales in this anthology. If you like ghost stories with variety this is for you.
September 13, 2020
A chilling collection of ghost stories that are short enough to enjoy on your own or read with some friends around a crackling campfire on a cool fall day. Within this terrific collection are tales of love and regret, fear and hope, longing and sorrow. I particularly enjoyed “Scarlet Ribbons” by Kitty Kane, “The Vacuum” by M.N. Nichols, and “Mr. Potato Head” by Elizabeth Massie, but I would happily recommend any of the stories included in this well-rounded collection. If you like a good old ghost story, I recommend picking up a copy of The Horror Zine’s Book of Ghost Stories.
August 12, 2020
Ghost stories are my favorite and I adored this book! Such a variety of creative hauntings. Regret, revenge, redemption...guilt, gore, ghosts...it's all here. There are many gems in this anthology, and everyone will find their own favorites. These were the standouts that resonated with me:
"The Boy From El Salvador" by Bentley Little. The writing felt so natural, the mystery and sense of dread were perfection, and he left just enough unsaid that I found myself thinking about the characters after the tale concluded. I loved everything about this story.
"Trespass" by D.J. Tyrer. This was the creeping slow-burn type of story I love. It had such a sense of place, where the location was an integral character with its own secrets. If haunted buildings are your jam, check this one out.
"Mr. Potato Head" by Elizabeth Massie. This might be my favorite of the bunch. It is so original and twisted.
"Something to Nibble On" by Christian A. Larsen. Body horror that broke my heart.
"All that She Leaves Behind" by S.J. Budd. This story explores the complexities of familial obligation. It's a beautifully written cautionary tale about just how haunting loneliness can be.
If you want a solid batch of ghost stories to haunt your nights, The Horror Zine's Book of Ghost Stories delivers.
Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy.
"The Boy From El Salvador" by Bentley Little. The writing felt so natural, the mystery and sense of dread were perfection, and he left just enough unsaid that I found myself thinking about the characters after the tale concluded. I loved everything about this story.
"Trespass" by D.J. Tyrer. This was the creeping slow-burn type of story I love. It had such a sense of place, where the location was an integral character with its own secrets. If haunted buildings are your jam, check this one out.
"Mr. Potato Head" by Elizabeth Massie. This might be my favorite of the bunch. It is so original and twisted.
"Something to Nibble On" by Christian A. Larsen. Body horror that broke my heart.
"All that She Leaves Behind" by S.J. Budd. This story explores the complexities of familial obligation. It's a beautifully written cautionary tale about just how haunting loneliness can be.
If you want a solid batch of ghost stories to haunt your nights, The Horror Zine's Book of Ghost Stories delivers.
Thank you to the editor for providing a review copy.
September 5, 2020
I enjoyed this book so much. Great writers. Great stories. I actually couldn’t wait to get back to reading when life got in the way. I’m actually reading some of Horror Zine’s collections that I read years ago, and got some new ones. I’m excited to read again!
August 9, 2020
Wow really enjoyed this one! Such a blast full review coming soon
November 1, 2025
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a review.
This is a collection of short stories from greats like Bentley Little, Graham Masterton & Dawn Harris, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Tim Waggoner, Kitty Kane, Sebastian Crow, Maureen O’Leary, Jeff Parsons, and many, many more. Let me add: Nicholas Pascall, Derek Austin Johnson, Christian A. Larsen.
Starts with a bang in a short poem by D. J. Tyrer about a haunted house.
I don’t jump around in collections and read my favs first. I like to find new favorites, so I read from start to end. Let’s call it OCD.
The opening story is fun, but not scary. The tension was missing. It is horror, but lacked punch. The next story really makes up for it. It’s a real kicker. A ouiji board and a dark spirit.
A haunted house is next on the list, followed by a questionable story by Bentley Little. This tale had a good build-up, great action, and smooth writing. The mechanics of writing are all there. But the ending ruined it for me.
For this reviewer, many stories were fun, a few (5) were brilliant, and some were lacking. All collections are like this. I’m not going to name any titles or the reasons I noted for not meshing with me.
Here’s a run-down of what you’ll find in this fine collection:
Harry Houdini debunks spiritualists then he meets Dorothy / A funeral for the dead / A gift from an unknown uncle with a cryptic message / A haunted school / A murderer hears the voices of his victims / an abused wife on the run finds an abandoned farm (what could go wrong especially when the truth comes out) / A battle with rats / Ghost Hunters / Haunted Hotels and Houses / Acceptance of death and Cutting Mustard.
Top picks:
Warm – Nicholas Pascall
Proof of Afterlife – Derek Austin Johnson
Filling Station – Joe R. Lansdale
Cutting the Mustard – Graham Masterton & Dawn Harris
Something to Nibble On – Christian A. Larsen
This is a collection of short stories from greats like Bentley Little, Graham Masterton & Dawn Harris, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Tim Waggoner, Kitty Kane, Sebastian Crow, Maureen O’Leary, Jeff Parsons, and many, many more. Let me add: Nicholas Pascall, Derek Austin Johnson, Christian A. Larsen.
Starts with a bang in a short poem by D. J. Tyrer about a haunted house.
I don’t jump around in collections and read my favs first. I like to find new favorites, so I read from start to end. Let’s call it OCD.
The opening story is fun, but not scary. The tension was missing. It is horror, but lacked punch. The next story really makes up for it. It’s a real kicker. A ouiji board and a dark spirit.
A haunted house is next on the list, followed by a questionable story by Bentley Little. This tale had a good build-up, great action, and smooth writing. The mechanics of writing are all there. But the ending ruined it for me.
For this reviewer, many stories were fun, a few (5) were brilliant, and some were lacking. All collections are like this. I’m not going to name any titles or the reasons I noted for not meshing with me.
Here’s a run-down of what you’ll find in this fine collection:
Harry Houdini debunks spiritualists then he meets Dorothy / A funeral for the dead / A gift from an unknown uncle with a cryptic message / A haunted school / A murderer hears the voices of his victims / an abused wife on the run finds an abandoned farm (what could go wrong especially when the truth comes out) / A battle with rats / Ghost Hunters / Haunted Hotels and Houses / Acceptance of death and Cutting Mustard.
Top picks:
Warm – Nicholas Pascall
Proof of Afterlife – Derek Austin Johnson
Filling Station – Joe R. Lansdale
Cutting the Mustard – Graham Masterton & Dawn Harris
Something to Nibble On – Christian A. Larsen
May 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Some of them were really creepy and the ones that weren’t were emotional or offered an interesting perspective on death. The book really held my attention the whole way through, which is hard to do with short stories. I found every story intriguing! If you enjoy ghost stories, this is a treat!
November 2, 2024
This solid, spooky anthology of ghosts was well-organized and featured the talents of an array of horror writers. There were lots of dark basements, vengeful spirits and rats! Suitable for rainy nights or quiet days, this collection delivered chills in a variety of glorious ways. Highly recommended!
June 1, 2025
Not Real Ghost Stories ( ? )
This assumes of course that I naively imagine that there are real ghost stories or perhaps more reasonably; that there exits a genre of stories that are supposed to be real ghost stories, but this collection is merely ’childish’ ghost stories without any pretext of a connection to reality ( ? )
This assumes of course that I naively imagine that there are real ghost stories or perhaps more reasonably; that there exits a genre of stories that are supposed to be real ghost stories, but this collection is merely ’childish’ ghost stories without any pretext of a connection to reality ( ? )
July 1, 2025
A lot of hits and a lot of misses, but the quality of the hits makes up for the misses.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews