Shadowy Natures

by Rebecca Rowland (Editor)

"The boundary line between instinct and reason is of a very shadowy nature.” - Edgar Allan Poe (1840).

With its twenty-one stories of serial killers and sociopaths, fixations and fetishes, breakdowns and bad decisions crafted by authors as diverse as their writing styles, Shadowy Natures leads fans of psychological horror down dark and treacherous roads to destinations they will be too unsettled to leave. 

Under the tutelage of a charismatic caretaker, a young boy learns that the rules don’t apply to 'exceptional' people; under the blinders of parental love, a parent considers the after-effects of his daughter’s criminal exoneration.

One suburban dad finds himself inexplicably drawn to something he spies while walking the family pet, and another discovers buried compulsions awakened by his daughter’s dental deformity. Sorting through a deceased relative’s belongings, a family stumbles upon a horrific treasure, as a drifter with a dark secret wanders the Old West.

While a military officer spends his days delivering despair, a procrastinator is consumed by guilt after making a deadly mistake, and a businessman stumbles upon a bizarre family photo gallery.

Post-partum paranoia and isolation threaten one mother’s sanity until an outside threat pushes her over the edge while another mother picks at her son’s psychological scabs until he scrambles for release.

Urban blight bears down on a convenience store owner; a middle-aged man takes a terminally ill acquaintance captive to avenge his lover’s death; a depressed suburban housewife makes a strange new friend, and a neglected teen finds solace and inspiration in a vicious classmate’s company.

When her brother moves back into the family home, a woman becomes consumed by what he leaves behind; when a man disappears, his sister considers the warning signs he may have been leaving since childhood. One couple abandons urban life for the isolating wilderness while another plays a dangerous game, hoping to rekindle their relationship.

While one son revisits the scene of his father’s horrific crime spree, another returns home to ponder his family’s well-hidden secret.

From unique twists on traditional terror tropes to fresh frights found in the most innocuous of places, these tales will surprise and unnerve even the most veteran horror fans.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2020

About the author

Rebecca Rowland is a Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author, a Bram Stoker Award-nominated editor, and the recipient of a Godless 666 Horror Fiction Award. She is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers, and having lived in Massachusetts for most of her life, she chooses to set most of her fiction there.
Despite earning graduate degrees in English, Education, and Information Science, she miraculously managed to pay off her student loans before retirement and/or death.
In her spare time, she pets her cats, eats cheese, and drinks vodka, though not necessarily in that order.
She is represented by Becky LeJeune of Bond Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

These 21 dreadfully dark tales held me captive from first to last story. This is unusual for me, for as much as I love anthologies I nearly always find myself skipping one or 2 stories in a book of this size. I never hold that against them, it's only the law of averages that deems not every story can be a winner with every reader. Somehow, Shadowy Natures beat those odds, at least with me. The only negative thing I could say, is that some of the endings were a bit vague for my tastes, but even then it did not take away from the fact that I enjoyed the story. Some readers may take offense at the subject matter in a few of the more gruesome tales. Don't say I did not warn you. A few of my favorites were: "Heart Skull Heart" by Bryan Miller a contemporary tale that could have easily been ripped from today's headlines. Being based on reality made it all the more unsettling.
"The Wolf Gang" by Barrie Darke begins innocently enough as a man goes home with a coworker after a long day in hopes of a good night sleep, before an early start in the morning. It's not long before I questioned his judgement because if it were me I would have been too scared to sleep in that house. "In A Mother's Eyes" by Andrew Punzo Finds a lieutenant making the sad visit to inform a mother that her son was killed in action and getting a quite unexpected reaction. "Maternal Bond" by KC Grifant in which a new mom battles lack of sleep and postpartum depression really got under my skin as I recalled my own earliest days of coping with a baby who cried non stop. "Ring Rock" by James Edward O'brien is told from the point of view of a man who went along with his wife's wishes to purchase her dream home even though for him it was a nightmare come true. "Accessory" by K.N. Johnson pretty much blew me away. It was not what I expected from a simple beginning of a girl who was born unwanted to a father who only wanted boys. This was a twisty psychological horror that I won't soon forget "Itch" by Louis Stephenson was high on the gross out scale. after reading it I think I may have even grossed myself out by using that word.. scale. Yuck. "Walking On Knives" by Mathhew R. Davis tosses us into the midst of a stale marriage looking to spice things up and finding the wrong kind of excitement. "Like Abigail Winchell" by Christina Delia takes a look at the fine line between friends and frenemies, be they real or imagined.
If I have not singled out other stories it does not mean I did not enjoy them, only that these are the ones still embedded in my mind, and that days after finishing this book I can still recall them off the top of my head.

I received an advance copy for review.

[Paul Stansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Full disclosure--I am one of the authors who contributed to this anthology.)
This was a fun and scary mix of psychological horror stories. My personal favorites were Matthew R. Davis's "Walking on Knives" (a couple's attempt to jazz up their sex life goes terribly awry), KC Grifant's "Maternal Bond" (about a new mother dealing with severe stress and depression), and Bryan Miller's "Heart Skull Heart" (a father suspects his beloved daughter may not be what she seems). I also especially enjoyed K.N. Johnson's "Accessory," Scotty Milder's "Seven Days of Dog Walking," and Louis Stevenson's "Itch."

[Elin Olausson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher*

I truly enjoyed the stories in this psychological horror anthology. The stories and writing styles are vastly different from each other, so there should be something for everyone in this book. I particularly enjoyed these stories:

"Taking Out the Garbage" by Thomas Vaughn. About being the one upstanding citizen in a bad neighborhood, where a strange man walks around like a ghost and broken women disappear. A dark and gloomy story, very rich in atmosphere - images kept popping up in my head when I read it.

"Accessory" by K. N. Johnson. You can't always trust your friends. This is like a horror version of Mean Girls, and what's not to love about that?

"Like Abigail Winchell" by Christina Delia. The perfect mom with the perfect house, kids, and book club, invents a not-so-perfect imaginary friend for herself. I only wish this story was longer!

[Derek Muk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading Shadowy Natures (Dark Ink Books), an anthology of psychological horror stories edited by Rebecca Rowland. If you're a fan of dark fiction, crime fiction, mystery, suspense, and thrillers you will enjoy this collection. The book certainly encompasses that broad spectrum of genres. The stories range from being brutal, disturbing, unsettling, and haunting. Sometimes anthologies can be hit or miss as not every story may be strong, engaging, or captivating. Well, in the case of this particular book, I'd say the majority of the stories are strong.

My favorite stories in it are: "Drifter," "Taking Out the Garbage," "In Control," "Maternal Bond," "Ring Rock," and "Uncle." Now I'm curious to see what Dark Ink Books has lined up for the future.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.


While not every story had the same impact for me, there wasn’t one here that I didn’t like at least a little, which is great tbh. A lot of times in anthologies there will be a story or two that I just give up on – so any time that doesn’t happen, it’s a win, don’t you think?

You can read my full review (which looks at each individual story) at:

https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020...

[Holly Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthologies are like beer flights. You get a little taste here, a little taste there, and before you know it you’ve found a new author to love and you go buy all of their books. Often wildly different in style and voice, short stories grouped together like this are perfect for the reader who only has small snippets of time. And it’s hard to have each story reflect an overall theme while being unique. In this, Shadowy Natures is the perfect anthology with 21 dark tales that will get in your head, squirming and pulsing until you have to look away.

Some of these were truly disgusting body-horrors. I’m looking at you, “Itch” by Louis Stephenson. I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit with every paragraph I read. Great job making me feel the disgust of the main character at her brother’s skin condition, and now I have to go scratch my arm…

There was some fantastic writing with gorgeous imagery in “Mandibular Fixation” by Lee Rozelle. “It was pitch black and I found myself stumbling in yoga pants through an abandoned building that had this reek of burnt oil and rotten onions. The stark odor of human grease, unwashed clothes and thick black flies spiraled Mandibular Fixation upward in a confusion of staircases as I ran in the direction of Ally’s screams.”

“Drifter” by C.W. Blackwell was one of my favorites. Even though I had an idea where the story was going, I still enjoyed the trip. Great characterization and scenic descriptions, just enough to place you and have you feel for the character but not so much that it takes you out of the story. It’s hard to pack historical fiction into a short format, but Blackwell knocked it out of the park.

Love the characters and vivid descriptions in “Taking Out the Garbage” by Thomas Vaughn.

Just flat-out fantastic writing in “Seven Days of Dog Walking” by Scotty Milder.

“Maternal Bond” by K.C. Grifant struck a chord with me, reminding me of my own days dealing with sleep deprivation, a screaming newborn, and post-partum depression. Grifant portrayed those feelings in such a realistic way. I definitely thought it would go in a darker direction, and I was glued to the page in anticipation of the ending. Fantastic tension throughout.

I loved the style and format of “Heart Skull Heart” by Bryan Miller. An in-depth look at the turmoil of parents on the other end of shocking headlines, it examines the heart of parents dealing with one of the worse thing they could face. Having to live with the fact that their child did such a heinous thing, and still loving them through it, would be near-impossible for anyone. Fantastic ending.

Walking on Knives – Matthew R. Davis
Another one of my favorites, this took a turn I was not expecting from the opening paragraphs and I loved it. The differing perspectives are done really well, especially when you read the husband’s and your gut starts twisting as you think you know, then you do know, what’s happening.

My absolute favorite of the bunch was “Uncle” by Elin Olausson. The writing/voice/atmosphere/characters, all of it was top-notch. It’s hard to write a child’s perspective in such an engaging way, but Olausson killed it. “Uncle says that it was for the best that Mother died. I didn’t agree at first but I agree now. She was slow and clumsy, like a slug or cow or some other animal you don’t have to be nice to.” Then that last line: “And then it will be just me and him on the porch, and our mouths will taste like peaches.” This is a beautifully written story.

There is something in here for every fan of horror and/or dark fiction and I enjoyed the stories immensely, even the ones I didn't highlight here.

[Jeff McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billed as an anthology of "psychological horror", this book does not disappoint.

Among the gems within - a drifter who always has a companion - who who doesn't survive more than a day or two in his company, a fictional version of the crimes of Edmund Kemper, the Coed Killer, and a woman - worried about being a good mother..allows coyotes to devour her to protetc her child....

My favorite stories in this volume were Johnson's "Accessory" and Miller's "Heart Skull Heart"....what can be done about a young woman who influences suicide among her friends on social media? Chilling.

Enjoy!


Jeff McIntosh

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle hits the nail on the head for this book; Stories of Psychological Horror. The tales in Shadowy Natures truly mess with your head.

I have always had a long standing believe that the art you keep thinking about is truly the ones that have the most impact. With Shadowy Natures, I found myself thinking about numerous stories later in the day or even days later. They truly got into my head. Especially the ones that at first reading I either didn’t get or thought ended abruptly. At first, I questioned the story, wondering if they worked, but as I thought more and more, I realized they did work, almost too well as they wormed their way into my brain.

As a parent, Heart Kull Heart by Bryan Miller and Maternal Bond by KC Grifant really struck me hard. Seven Days of Dog Waling by Scotty Milder and In a Mother’s Eyes by Andrew Punzo both also stood out to me in creepy and entertaining ways. Lastly, Accessory by K.N. Johnson was the stand out to me as I could see it playing out like a creepy and twisted Heathers style movie in my head.

As the editor, Rebecca Rowland truly did a superb job at choosing stories that work well together. While they are all vastly different, each fit into the theme snuggly. I’m looking forward to more collections edited by Rebecca.

[Bob Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spine-chilling and hair-raising
This is a terrific and terrifying selection of stories that will make you squirm in your seat and force you to get up to check the doors and windows before you go to sleep. However, you won’t be able to resist reading just one more story before you shut your eyes. Even though you know it will probably give you nightmares. But rest assured, your nightmares can’t possibly be more spine-chilling or hair-raising than the tales in Shadowy Natures.
There are twenty-one stories in the collection and they are all excellent. Three stories in particular stood out for me.
‘Maternal Bond’ by KC Grifant takes you deep inside the tortured psyche of a young mother trying desperately to cope with a newborn baby that just won’t stop screaming. Her maternal love leads her to make the ultimate sacrifice.
In ‘Lemonade’ by Paul Stansfield, a family faces an ethical dilemma when they find an obscene treasure left by a deceased relative. It poses the question, ‘can you use evil from the past to do good today?’
Louis Stephenson’s ‘Itch’ is a story of physical infection and psychological breakdown that will have you checking your shower for flecks of dead skin and your carpet for creepy bugs. A sugar shaker will never seem so innocent again.

Bob Hastings

[Holl Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I'm one of the authors in this collection. But of course, that leaves 20 other stories for me to appreciate, and appreciate I do! For fans of dark, twisted, creepy horror, this is the book for you! Each story is excellent, but Scotty Milder's "Seven Days of Dog Walking" and Elin Olausson's "Uncle" in particular have haunted me for months now. You won't regret reading this! (Except maybe when all of the lights are off...and the shadows in your bedroom look a little longer than normal...and what was that sound in the hall? But hey, isn't that what you paid for?)

[S.K. Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the stories were certainly unnerving and I think horror fans would enjoy them. I would recommend it

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with another review on here. Usually, when I pick up an anthology, I know if I’m lucky, I’m going to REALLY enjoy a few of the stories, like some of them, and want to skip some as well. This is true for single-author collections, too. It’s not a criticism of those stories I liked least. We all have different tastes. However. I must say, Shadowy Natures is the first anthology where I genuinely enjoyed every single one of the stories, even though the subjects, narrator voices, and author styles were very different. All are psychological horror. Don’t expect any monsters or splatterporn, but DO be prepared for some serious CREEP, and I say that in a good way.

“Mandibular Fixation,” “Taking Out the Garbage,” and “Ring Rock” all have gradually building tension, the kind where, if they were movies, you’d hold off going for more popcorn because you just know something big is going to happen any moment. “Seven Days of Dog Walking,” “Uncle,” “In a Mother’s Eyes,” “The Wolf Gang,” “Cuckoo,” and “Like Abigail Winchell” all made me start to question my spidey-sense. In each, there is something very rotten in Denmark, and it’s not until at least halfway through each story that the dark truth is revealed. A few of the other stories, “Drifter,” “His Death Brings No Respite,” “Itch,” and “Lemonade” truly surprised me in their unique approaches to the genre, incorporating the Old West as a setting, a storyline involving a revenge plot on a man in hospice, a common skin condition gone berserk, and an underground collectors’ item of books bound in human skin, respectively.

There are also everyday situations that quickly escalate into terror traps, like in “Maternal Bond” (just had a baby? expecting one soon? you’ll freak out) or “Christmas Shopper” (are you a Black Friday regular? you won’t be after this story) or “Walking on Knives” (looking for something to spice up your marriage? DON’T). And of course, there are stories about everyday humans who simply enjoy killing and/or hurting others: “In Control,” “Accessory,” “My Father’s Home,” “Heart Skull Heart,” and “Roger” just to remind us that, yep, my next-door neighbor may in fact have bodies in his basement. I cannot recommend this anthology enough, and I dare any fan of psychological horror to read it and try to be disappointed. It can’t be done.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher (but frankly, I would pay for it. I think it’s only $15 on Amazon and I’ll probably buy a copy for my niece who also enjoys horror).

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought Shadowy Natures because I enjoyed Rebecca Rowland’s last two collections, and I have not been disappointed. Some people don’t get psychological horror, but it’s just what it sounds like, it gets in your head and the horror comes from how more and more uncomfortable the writer makes you feel when you read it. I didn’t pick up this book thinking it would be full of bloody guts and gore, and even though there is some of that most of the book is just super creepy as heck. I had to run out to the store last night and when this sketchy guy came up behind me, I immediately thought of “Taking Out the Garbage.” When I was backing my car down the driveway, I had a flashback of “Christmas Shopper.” When my wife who gets mild eczema sometimes was scratching her arm, I thought of “Itch” right away. The writing is rather exceptional throughout the book. I felt like I could hear actually hear the characters in stories like “His Death Brings No Respite” and “Abigail Winchell.” Sometimes I read an anthology from an indie publisher and a few of the stories sound like they were written by a junior high student. Not the case here. Every single one of these stories is well written and creeped the crow out of me. People who are expecting in-your-face slasher stuff or maybe lots of fantasy monsters are going to knock a star or two off but I honestly think that’s because they don’t understand what psychological horror is. THIS is it! Really good book!

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong anthology from Rebecca Rowland.
Review to come.

[Christina Delia · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received a complimentary review copy from the publisher.*** That said, I am so proud and honored to be included in “Shadowy Natures”, a psychological horror anthology that disorients, grabs and drags the reader straight through an assortment of fright-inducing personal hells, and will fittingly be released just in time for the chill of Autumn to take hold.

I love horror, and my horror writer contemporaries included in this anthology have given their readership a sinister and unsettling gift to behold. Terror tales that stood out for me:

Lee Rozelle’s “Mandibular Fixation” is a nightmarish array through jarring familial and religious terrain, plus orthodontics.

“Maternal Bond” by KC Grifant gets into the uncomfortable skin of post-pregnancy, and that’s only the beginning of the discomfort that this story brings. Grifant brilliantly channels the sleeplessness and disorientation of new motherhood, then moves in and shocks us awake.

“Ring Rock” by James Edward O’Brien starts as unassumingly as a TV movie premise, (wife has high hopes for a fixer upper, husband is skeptical) but avalanches into a creep show. O’Brien sets the tone with a country retreat that showcases terrifying perils of handyman special home-ownership and rustic living.

The child narrator’s voice in Elin Olausson’s “Uncle” is a stark contrast to the grim adult world he inhabits. The duality between innocence and depravity is conducted masterfully well by Olausson, right down to her story’s final image.

“Walking on Knives” by Matthew R Davis takes the vanilla out of a couple’s sex life, turning it white hot (and blood red.) You won’t look at date night in quite the same way again.

I am a huge fan of anything darkly Christmas related (the movie “Black Christmas” for example) and “Christmas Shopper” by Rudy Kremberg hit all of the right holiday notes for me; from the aptly named “Wondermart” superstore, to capturing the narrator’s “least favorite carol” coming out of the store’s loudspeaker. Before we even get to the story’s true terror, Kremberg has us reminiscing over the indignities of brick and mortar Black Friday: a retro nostalgic fright fest that makes the reader feel grateful for the option of shopping online. Just when we are shuddering at the monotonous storefront purgatory-state of Christmas shopping’s past, Kremberg deftly sucks us into a disorienting Noel Nightmare that’s prime reading for Halloween. Tis the Season!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychological horror is a funny thing; die-hard horror fans balk at its inclusion in a genre dominated by scary monsters and supernatural occurrences. I, for one, am a believer that a tale doesn’t have to be other-worldly to be frightening. I am always much more creeped out by stories that affect me mentally than those that poke sharp sticks at my fanciful imagination. After all, I can easily rationalize that there are no ghosts, werewolves, or zombies waiting for me in the kitchen. A deranged psychopath, on the other hand? Only if I am lucky (what was that noise?!). Psychological horror focuses on the mental states of its characters. If a writer is skillful, s/he will pull us into their characters’ world and we will experience that emotional atmosphere, feel it reverberate in our spines.

Speaking as the curator of this anthology, every one of the twenty-one authors in Shadowy Natureshas mastered that skill. When Dark Ink opened the call for this collection, the publisher was overrun with hundreds of submissions: they received so many, in fact, that the number exceeded the allotted limit and the company had to close the call early. So many of the stories received were extraordinary: well-written, expertly crafted, and original. These twenty-one, however, went above and beyond that. Each of these tales was selected for a very specific reason, and that is that I could not get it out of my head days after reading it. Some of the stories are graphic and violent; others are subtler and slowly slither around your anxieties; all are impactful in a way that I rarely see in this sub-genre. I realize that it may seem moot: a high review from the individual who edited the book, but I do not have a story in the anthology, and I have only genuine praise for the twenty-one who do.

[E.B. Lunsford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of short stories that proves even the most mundane things can become terrifying in the right circumstances. If you’re looking for psychological stories that are well-written with a few twists and turns you’ll never see coming, look no further. My favorites were “Accessory” by K.N. Johnson, “Heart Skull Heart” by Bryan Miller, and “Walking on Knives” by Matthew R. Davis. The best part was I only found a single typo in the entire novel. Bravo to the editor! I look forward to reading more stories from this publisher in the future.

[Robert Ottone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa.

Just finished this tome of madness. Couldn’t be more impressed with the stories in this collection, and truly think it’s a candidate for Best Anthology of the Year. I have my favorites, notably KC Grifant's “Maternal Bond,” James Edward O’Brien’s “Ring Rock” and Scotty Milder’s “Seven Days of Dog Walking” but holy cats, did I really dig this entire smorgasbord of psychological horror edited by the awesome Rebecca Rowland.

I'm really floored by the quality on display here, and the varied concepts being played with by everyone on tap really delivered something special here. To skip this one would be a huge mistake.

[Mona Kabbani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadowy Natures from Dark Ink Books contains 21 dark tales. Each tale a twisted pathway down the human mind. Seemingly innocuous scenarios that grow corrupted like tangled vines. A great homage to the insanity that lurks within us.

This book is a whirlwind of chaos! I had a bit of a hard time connecting with most of the stories and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m a city girl so these suburban-like stories didn’t hit a trigger for me. But they are still very eerie and the ones that I did connect to on some level, whether it was character or story driven, gave me goosebumps! Here are my top three favorites of the anthology for if you do check this book out!:
Accessory by KN Johnson (A Mean Girls take on highschool life when murder is involved.)
Heart Skull Heart by Bryan Miller (A father suspects that his daughter is not as sweet as she claims to be. In fact, manipulatively homicidal.)
Lemonade by Paul Stansfield (Would you profit off a product made by other people’s suffering?)

This book, focused on psychology/insanity, has stories encouraged by ambiguity. Meaning that the plots are ambiguous and the writing is darkly poetic and interpretive. Which is perfect for the theme when we talk about psychology considering that our thoughts and actions are so twisted and overexposed, it’s hard, if not, impossible to give a clear depiction of motive. For that, I appreciate the anthology staying true to its overall theme. If you are not one for dark prose and wildly unique stories, this may not be for you. BUT if you do like to dive deep into the human mind and wonder, what the heck just happened and WHY did it happen?, then I suggest giving this book a looksie!

[Elizabeth Suggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadowy Natures edited by Rebecca Rowland is a horror anthology with twenty-one different stories of “serial killers and sociopaths, fixations and fetishes, breakdowns, and bad decisions crafted by authors as diverse as their writing styles.” If you like scary stories, especially psychological horror, then you may find a new favorite chilling tale in Shadowy Natures.
I’m going to focus on the stories that really stand out to me. It’s these highlights that caused me to rate the book so highly. My top three favorite stories are without a doubt “Uncle,” by Elin Olausson, “In a Mother’s Eyes” by Andrew Punzo, and “Walking on Knives” by Matthew R. Davis. These stories were phenomenal from start to finish.
In “Uncle,” we experience what a child experiences in such stark reality and truth, that you become the child, and his actions and thoughts are very believable. I couldn’t stop reading.
The ending to “In a Mother’s Eyes” was so shocking that it has stayed with me, days after reading it. I want the story to continue!
And last, but most certainly not least, “Walking on Knives.” This story had me at the edge of my seat. If my hands hadn’t been holding the book, I might have clutched the edge of the bed, waiting for the next scene to unravel.
I highly recommend reading these stories, especially if you’re hoping to stay up all night!

[AM Ink Publishing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a fantastic collection of dark fiction. Every story messes with your mind on some level. The editor did an amazing job ordering and choosing the stories to fit the theme. Anyone who loves dark fiction or wants to read stories that will be stuck in their head for days, this is the book for them.