The Return

by Anthony M. Strong

Some places should be left alone.

It’s been fifteen years since Ben and his father buried the time capsule in the woods on their last camping trip before his father’s death. Now Ben is returning to dig it up. But the woods are not the happy place they once were. What starts out as a weekend camping trip to rekindle old memories and have some fun turns into a nightmare for Ben and his girlfriend, Sally.

There’s something evil at the old campground, and it doesn’t want them to leave.

A paranormal ghost story that you won't want to read just before bed.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal

41 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Good 👍🏽

Ben and Sally (I have a problem remembering names), are camping up in the mountains.

Ben hasn’t been there since his Dad died fifteen years ago. They buried a time capsule that day and Ben wants to dig it up.

But they are unable to camp their because the camp site is fenced off and locked, preventing them from going there.

Did I say prevent? My mistake. Attempt at preventing. They climbed over that fence like monkeys. 🐒

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Return by Anthony Strong is a creepy story, but I think it would work better as a full novel. I read the forty pages in about an hour. I wish it was longer with more characters. Fifteen years prior, Ben and his Dad had buried something in the woods. Because he’s lost his Dad in the present, Ben wants to go with his girlfriend to retrieve it. Ben hopes that while on his excursion, he will have fun in the woods camping out with his girlfriend; however, there’s something in the forest that would rather have fun with them. It works as the beginning to a full-length novel that ended way before the story should end. Clearly, I wanted more because the story is just a prologue to something more, much larger. Very disappointing to my mind.

[Regina the Constant Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Kindle Book

I've never gone camping in my life and after reading this creepy short story about two campers who go into the woods and don't come out, I never will.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you hate camping? Does the idea of giving up all the comforts of modern civilization in favor of sleeping in a flimsy tent and sh*tting in the woods seem insane to you? Does the romance of dirt and muck completely elude you? If so, congratulations, you're a reasonable logical person and a credit to the modern era and all its achievements. If not...read this book. Just one more reason to practice safe vacation as it were. Because frightening things occur in the middle of nowhere, especially when one doesn't follow the rules and regulations, like in this story. The Return was a freebie for signing up for the author's newsletter. The reason for signing up was the fact that the other short story I read by him was quite good and this one didn't disappoint. In fact I might have even liked it more. Strong writes well, he's immensely readable and entertaining and so far I'm very impressed. Fans of spooky tales should very much enjoy this quick fun read. Recommended.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Short Read!

This was a great short story - kept my attention - fast paced horror - read it in about an hour - gives you pause about camping in the woods

[Angela Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME

I loved this book it made my heart drop when I started reading it. There was nothing wrong with this book. I would recommend this to my friends and family. I rated it took a this because I loved it.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the previous short story I read. Missed the creepiness and suspense I was hoping for.

[Raymond Mathiesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Return

It's out there…

Classic horror stuff here, but let's face it, these plot lines never really lose their charm. We all take risks, if they seem small, and sometimes we step over the mark. Soon we are plunging into the unknown. I enjoyed this short read and would certainly recommend it to classic horror lovers.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really not a "camping on the ground in a tent" kinda girl. After reading this story I'm not sure I'm even a "go in the woods in a trailer" kinda girl either. In fact, I think I am definitely a "lets not go in the woods at ALL" kinda girl. Definitely a fabulous little read. Get yours and get your creepies on.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Anthony for the opportunity to read your book.

You break the rules you suffer the consequences. Ben may have wanted to find a box buried when he was a child however the camping area has been closed for a reason.

[Sandro Filipe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rate: 3.5 stars

[Cattie Whaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick read with all the chilling scenarios I've come to expect from this author. If you want a spooky fast book to read...here it is! Highly recommend!

[Wendy Hall-Duenez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy good

[Alice J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben decides to go back to Eagle Lake, the place where his dad used to take him camping every day for a year. It has been fifteen years since his dad passed and he still struggles so he thinks reclaiming the time capsule that was left at the site will do something for his morale. His girlfriend Sally comes along for the hike and as the two of them set up camp in the restricted section of the woods, they think everything is fine. Only there is something waiting out there...

This was a short read, good for reading in one sitting. It was good and dark and had me hanging on the story to find out what was going to happen. I have to say I was a little disappointed I didn't actually see what it was chasing them but the suspense was wonderfully built up. I also would have liked to see what was in that time capsule but the story veered off in another direction.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A one sitting read. Very suspenseful. Anthony Strong writes very tight, scary stories. I was a little disappointed in the ending. I wanted to know what was in the time capsule they were looking for and I wanted to know what horror had the rancid breath four sentences before the end of the book! I would have given this book 3 1/2 points if that were an option. I will definitely read other Anthony M Strong books or short stories.

[Ursula Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a short story I enjoyed this book...bit about the buried box was irrelevant really as it didn't have to be the reason they went there to camp when they shouldn't....going back for a 'trip down memory lane' would have been enough. Good page turner and I did like the fact that when you thought they were safe they weren't......

[Ellen Maisano · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

I personally didn't like this as a short read. It does have a great plot with potential to be a full blown amazing thriller. I think the author stopped too early as if in a hurry to get it done. More would have made this an on the edge of your seat book.

[Sonya Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy!

At some points I was reading so fast, my thoughts were tripping over words to see what would happen next. A real page turner. Recommended!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but the ending sucked.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance!🐧🐧&#x1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another tremendously scary!!:)

[Carolyn Parson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scary

Enjoyed the characters. Good short story, but not as satisfying as I wished. Could have been longer. Very creepy and suspenseful.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is this just a novella? I really liked this but it had so much possibility as a full book! It gave me some creeps but it was more questions than scares for me. Still a great quick read.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and creepy!

[Conny · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars because the ending. What was it?

[Syndilou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Return was good. The only thing was that it was short. Never found out what the thing was or if the 2 main characters did die. It left me hanging as if there should be more to read.