The Halloween Store, and Other Tales of All Hallows' Eve

by Ronald Kelly, Zach McCain (Illustrator)

When you first enter The Halloween Store, things seem normal. Fun and frightful decorations, ghastly costumes and masks of the season, and bags of candy galore. Then, as you travel farther into its shadowy depths, things begin to change. The air smells of damp autumn leaves and candle-scorched pumpkin. The shelves of All Hallows’ Eve fare grow darker and more disturbing. Strange and unsettling things of Halloweens past and present lurk amid the cobwebs and dust…

Four trick-or-treaters purchase vintage costumes from a strip-mall shop, only to discover that they must sign a mysterious disclaimer for the Halloween celebration to come…

After a man’s missing daughter is found–near death and physically altered–he must once again face a horrifying monster from his own childhood…

A teenage girl hitches a ride after a Halloween rock & roll concert, only to learn that her favorite singing idol has made a pact with the Devil himself…

Three kids receive unusual treats during a Halloween stop at their favorite teacher’s house…

During a random visit to his hometown, a businessman treats a young boy to the joy and excitement of a Halloween festival, only to find that things are not what they first appeared to be…

A rash of ghoulish jack-o’-lanterns leads a small-town sheriff to the doorstep of one of the most notorious serial killers of all time…

An advertisement in the back of an old comic book prompts two friends to place an order that they soon come to regret…

Seven horrific tales and two nostalgic essays… hand-picked for your Trick-or-Treat bag. With the arrival of a 2020 Halloween, there is no telling what terrifying treats and petrifying prizes may await you!

Genres: Horror, Halloween, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Thriller, Collections

150 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2020

About the author

Ronald Kelly was born and raised in the hills and hollows of Middle Tennessee. He became interested in horror as a child, watching the local "Creature Feature" on Saturday nights and "The Big Show"---a Nashville-based TV show that presented every old monster movie ever made ---in the afternoons after school. In high school, his interest turned to horror literature and he read such writers as Poe, Lovecraft, Matheson, and King. He originally had dreams of becoming a comic book artist and created many of his own superheroes. But during his junior year, the writing bug bit him and he focused his attention on penning short stories and full-length novels. To date, he has had thirteen novels and twelve short fiction collections published. In 2021, his extreme horror collection, THE ESSENTIAL SICK STUFF, won a Splatterpunk Award for Best Collection.

He currently lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee with his wife, young'uns, and an ultra-hyper Jack Russel named Toby.

Reviews

[Jakob J. 🎃 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crash course in the commercialization of Halloween has scarcely so lacked a condescending critique, as if we lovers of the lore should all be molding our own candy corn with harvested honey from a hive we have hidden in our garages and crafting our own costumes from foraged sticks and discarded cardboard. What the hell am I on about already? Read on for frightfully niche elucidation.

Ronald Kelly is an old school maven of the macabre and his reverence for All Hallow’s Eve—which myself and my magnificent buddy reader Halloween Queen Anna Morta share—couldn’t possibly be less manufactured. It’s as clear as the mask window on a Ben Cooper costume box that he is writing what he knows and loves, framing an instant cross-generational camaraderie. There is no irony in his celebratory glee, concluding the collection with a list of his most beloved vintage Halloween products, many of which make appearances throughout the preceding stories. I could concoct my own list of ‘90’s core memory relics I wish I’d had the foresight to not allow my parents to confine to the dumpster. Perhaps I will next year. My point is, you don’t have to grow your own turnips to carve to celebrate authentically. Plenty of the modern, mass-produced Halloween crop is crap, to be sure, but buy yourself and yours some spirited souvenirs. It could turn out to be an investment in a cherished memory.

The title story speaks to this spirit of spending when a quartet of kids purge their allowances on some classic monster costumes at a Halloween pop-up shop. The payoff is no surprise, but classically cathartic as they take on the attributes of a werewolf, a vampire, a witch, and a mummy, respectively. While the first three all become fearsome embodiments of their corresponding creatures, the poor mummy, always getting a bad wrap, simply crumbles to dust.

The final fictional piece shares this crisp air of childhood consumption. A pair of friends have to pool their money to order The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature they saw advertised in an old comic book, with an ending serving as both trick and absurd treat.

Perhaps seeing my Halloween timeline feed feels like gorging your entire trick or treat haul in one night, so I will spare you indulgence in each tale, but I will pivot briefly to what both the author and myself fall longingly victim. The open grave pitfall of nostalgia, especially in yearning for former magic of Halloweens past. Both his essay, The Last Halloween and his story The Cistern grapple with memory’s expectation and damning reality.

Jud listened to the innocent voice for a long time, reeling off the simple pleasures of the Halloween Festival. He could even hear the music and the crowd again, could smell the rich fragrance of roasted peanuts and sawdust. He wanted to go back, he truly did, but he knew what awaited him if he dared succumb.

Dwelling on the past is its own kind of Hell, like being trapped in a glass case, watching your memories as a spectator without ever being able to participate, thus losing sight of the present. It might as well not even be your life. You may also, given the chance to relive it, find that your memory is bent; refracted through rose-tinted nostalgia goggles. You will have damned yourself should you follow that child into too-good-to-be-true territory.

Thanks again, as ever, to Anna, for joining me on this Hallowed journey. One to remember.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Halloween fun read!

There are nine stories tucked away in this book and all of them were a very fun time which I enjoyed! Though all of them were great I do have favorites and I will give just a small tasty treat of those stories.

The Halloween Store - Be careful what Halloween costumes you wish for as once you have them on it might be hard to take them off.

Blood Suede Shoes - Being a fan of your rock idol could have dire consequences but at least you will be with them forever.

Pretty Little Lanterns - An legendary serial killer mixed with jack o' lanterns gives this story a twist!

The Last Halloween: An Essay and
My Top 10 Favorite Halloween Stuff of the 60's & 70's - These two stories were a "stroll down memory lane" by author, Ronald Kelly and I love how he adds his memories in this book of Halloween days gone by of when he was growing up and what Halloween meant to him.

All the stories just bring back Halloween memories of Fall days and fun times! Giving this book five "fun" stars!

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories and personal essays bring back the original flavors of Halloween. The stories have just the right creep factor, and you can practically taste the seasonal candy and hear the crisp crunch of fallen leaves under your feet as you roam the dark streets. Scares and memorabilia combine to make this a perfect Halloween treat.

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seasonal horror is special because it's not in great supply. I'm one of those people that gets very excited about enjoying traditions year after year as a way of looking forward to certain holidays. Reading Halloween-specific tales in October is my favorite!
THE HALLOWEEN STORE and Other Tales of All Hallows' Eve came out this year (2020) but will now forever remain in my line-up of books I will enjoy annually! I get excited about adding new books to my specific, spooky October books. This one is quintessential!
Stories:
*****THE HALLOWEEN STORE- a fantastic coming-of-age story with building dread, Fast pace; short
*****MISTER MACK IS BACK IN TOWN- longer story, mystery, supernatural, missing children, creature-feature.
**BLOOD SUEDE SHOES- this was the only one I didn't like very much because I didn't care for the way the main character was portrayed.
***CLOWN TREATS- campy, gross, creepy clowns
***THE CISTERN- Small town horror
*****PRETTY LITTLE LANTERNS- the scariest and most intensely dark story of the bunch. This one creeped me out. The author imagines if Jack the Ripper escaped London and struck again in rural America. Terrifying.
****THE AMAZING AND TOTALLY AWESOME FRIGHT CREATURE- This one was so fun!!
THE LAST HALLOWEEN: An Essay- I loved Ronald Kelly's essay and insight into his Halloween experiences
MY TOP 10 FAVORITE HALLOWEEN STUFF OF THE '60s and '70s- so nostalgic and fun, I'm pleased he included this in the book. I loved the section about Halloween Candy

I will read from this short story collection every year. Bravo, Ronald Kelly! I'm excited I have another Halloween anthology from this author to enjoy.

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Macabre Ink, for sending a copy of The Halloween Store in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a seasonal reader, meaning I usually select my books depending on the time of year, so I get especially excited as the weather cools and the nights grow longer. It can only mean one thing... It must be Halloween.

The Halloween Store by Ronald Kelly is a fantastic collection of short stories that completely scratched my Halloween itch. Each dark tale is just bursting with Halloween fear. I mean, cheer. Really, the only story I didn't particularly enjoy was the title story, "The Halloween Store." It just felt a little flat and childish, but the rest of the stories really pack a punch. 4.5 out of 5 pumpkins. Highly recommended!

If you would like to see my full thoughts on each story, you can check out my video review here.

[Latasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of Halloween stories! Is this Ronald Kelly's best collection yet? It just might be! These 7 short stories are better than a bag of full size candy bars. And!! as if that wasn't great enough, Ronald has an essay and some of his favorite Halloween stuff from the 60's and 70's at the end.


We have the return of a mysterious villain, a weird Halloween store, making deals with the devil and more! The stories are nostalgic, leaving you longing for Halloweens of the past. The stories are very well written and are a treat to read. You know the magic you feel when the leaves are rustling in the wind and the jack o'lanterns are all lit? That's the feeling you get when reading this book.



If you haven't read Ronald Kelly yet, I don't know why! The Halloween Store is a great place to start. So grab this book, light some candles, get some candy and settle in for a great read. Your going to have a great time!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE HALLOWEEN STORE and Other Tales of All Hallows' Eve, by Ronald Kelly is a collection of seven stories and two essays. These were perfect to get you into the Halloween mood!

Personal favorites of mine were "Clown Treats", "Mister Mack is Back in Town", "The Halloween Store", and "Pretty Little Lanterns".

Recommended.

[Nakia's Hideaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5!

This short story collection is definitely full of stories that gave me lots of Halloween vibes.

My favorites were...
-The Halloween Store
-Clown Treats
-Pretty Little Lanterns (The longest and best story in the whole collection!)

Then there were the stories that I liked but didn't love...
- Mister Mack Is Back In Town
-Blood Suede Shoes

Lastly, there were a couple of stories that I just didn't care for...
-Cistern
-The Amazing & Totally Awesome Fright Creature


Overall, I'd recommend it for some Halloween fun.

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A newly small town Halloween shop opens where the proprietor sells her wares that include a disturbing satisfaction guarantee. A young’uns neighborhood trick-or-treating expedition goes horribly wrong when a dubious clown chooses to give out his own version of goodies. A serial killer by the name of Doctor Jack, given by the small town of Green Hollow, takes carnal pleasure in his creative ingenuity when gutting and carving his own interpretation of pumpkin heads.
The Halloween Store by Ronald Kelly takes the reader on a handful of holiday tours through Halloween festivals, the delights of decorated local stores and childhood innocents where simple nostalgic pleasures reign. His literary paintings of the holiday's sights, sounds and smells often take a dark and perilous path towards unsuspecting dark areas where souls are often bought and sold. The stories read much like a classic Tales from The Crypt comic published by E.C. They contain great one liners at the conclusion of every twisted tale as well as a creepy mail-order advertisement that only the fearless should fill out. Not only does this book provide hours of spooky entertainment it hands out some special goodies in the form of an enjoyable introduction and several captivating essays that should be described as cryptic poetry.
There's something relaxing and enjoyable about Ronald Kelly's storytelling and writing style that no other author possesses. He's that neighbor which can weave a good tale and a pleasure to visit on All Hallow’s Eve knowing the good stuff will be plopped within your trick or treat bag. Although that grinning Jack 0 Lantern on his porch just doesn’t seem right for some reason. A five star Horror Bookworm review. Grab a copy for Halloween or for that matter any day of the year.
For more recommendations visit... https://horrorbookwormreviews.wordpre...

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first two stories: “The Halloween Store” & “Mister Mack is Back in Town”. These gave me the chills I was looking for.

Unfortunately the other stories just didn’t hit the same mark, leaving me wanting more spooky vibes than they could deliver.

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is our season, people. The time of year where spooky stuff is everywhere and the type of things we celebrate year-round become socially acceptable, at least temporarily. That said, I have mixed feelings on these types of collections. Sometimes it can feel a bit opportunistic, and seasonally themed stories read like the holiday element was an afterthought in the story’s plot.
Ronald Kelly’s The Halloween Store doesn’t suffer from this. Quite the opposite. Something that stuck with me was how Kelly used the introduction as well as a couple essays at the end to wax poetic about his lifelong love of Halloween. The reader is transported back to the days of late September trips to the drug store - bins full of grotesque rubber masks and costumes in spades, presenting the opportunity to become anything for just one night. Then there’s the magic of the night itself. But I’m allowing a book review to turn into a nostalgia session here.
The Halloween Store collects seven stories with the aforementioned essays together. The titular story reflects and builds on the idea of being able to transform into your favorite monster for one night. We see the magic, the excitement, while also examining the horrifying consequences that would result from such an ability.
Some of the stories collected maintain a more traditional short story length, hitting fast and hard as I’ve discovered Kelly is wont to do. “Blood Suede Shoes”, “Clown Treats”, “The Cistern”, and “The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature!” all detail accounts that transpire on Halloween nights, but stray from the carefree fun you remember from childhood. Of these, “Clown Treats” is the probably the most deranged, and therefore obviously, my favorite.
The other stories have a little more length to them, and benefit from that added word count. “The Halloween Store” and “Mister Mack is Back in Town” are in that mold, but perhaps it works best in the almost novelette length “Pretty Little Lanterns”. Taking place in the 1920’s. This story is a fun, intriguing combination of murder mystery and slasher bringing in Jack the Ripper lore to craft something really memorable. Certainly my favorite offering in an already stellar collection.
At 150 pages, The Halloween Store is a quick read, and even though some stories are better than others, there are no clunkers. This may be a collection I revisit every year when the leaves begin to fall off the trees.

I received a copy from the author for review consideration.

[Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun read! I love a good All Hallows Eve story. I definitely enjoyed this author writing style and how the stories were told in this book. Each story written was spellbinding and captured my undivided attention in every way. From the story written in this book these were my favorite:

The Halloween Store- this story started with a bang and basically described the tempo of each book written. This book is about a group of 4 kids that decide to buy Halloween masks/costumes for the wonderful spooky day. Little did they know just what a bargain they got.

Mister Mack is back in town- this story is about a creature that has a quench for kids. This monster gruesome story spans decades. Seems like everyone this monster comes in contact with has an unforgettable experience.

Blood Suede Shoes- now this story was amazing ! It’s rare when authors write about a spooky rock and roll Halloween story. This one was good even though it was a short story I enjoyed it. This story is about an up and coming rock and roll singer who has an interesting way of stay relevant. There is always a sacrifice for the cost of fame.

I still can’t believe I had this book on my TBR pile since October of 2022 and just now reading this book. That was my mistake I should’ve been read this book. I’ll definitely be adding this author to my list. Definitely an enjoyable book and a quick read. Very gruesome, horror filled and graphic scenes.

[J.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collections of short stories are usually a hit or miss for me as I usually like some build up and time to get to know the characters. The Halloween Store and Other Tales of all Halloween eve grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept me binge reading through the stories.

As the title suggests, all of the tales are based around Halloween and Ronald Kelly even added in a Halloween essay and what Halloween was like for him as a kid in the 60's and 70's which were very cool additions.

The Halloween Store and Clown Treats were my absolute favorites but I really did enjoy all of the stories.

I would definitely recommend checking this one out for the Halloween season!

[Mistress of the Bleeding Sorrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for Halloween!
"Pretty Little Lanterns" was my favorite story in this collection! It’s wonderfully dark and gruesome!

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

I love short horror stories all year round, but once the nights turn cold and the leaves begin to turn it feels like the perfect time to indulge in some Halloween tales. Every story here can stand alone, but to me they are even tastier if you have read Ronald Kelly's previous collections, as some monsters of the past do visit in this book. Fear not if you haven't read them, they are not a requirement in order to enjoy these spookalicious stories. In the title story The Halloween Store four friends get hold of some very unusual costumes and may regret not doing their shopping at Walmart. Mister Mack Is Back In Town revisits the otherworldly being that I previously met in Mister Glow-bones 25 years have passed and children are still suffering but Mister Mack may finally be caught. Blood Suede Shoes is a cautionary tale, don't accept rides from strangers when you're walking home from a rock and roll Halloween show, even if the driver is famous. In Clown Treats three friends head to their favorite teacher's house to trick or treat but end up with a nasty surprise. The Cistern felt like the best elements of Rod Serling and Ray Bradbury in a creepy story of small town horror that proves you can't go home again, or maybe you just shouldn't! Pretty Little Lanterns is a story of a serial killer on the loose and those are not pumpkins he's carving. The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature is an advertisement two boys find in a very old comic book, and it makes me glad I listened to my mother about not sending away for things in ads although they certainly got their money's worth.

This book is all treats and no tricks. I feel like I scored a bag of full size candy bars and not a mini toothpaste or pencil eraser in the bunch.

[Mylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

How have I not read Ronald Kelly before?
Not only can this author actually write, but his tales are so authentic.

When I initially finished the first story “The Halloween Store”, I felt like I had just read a very well-written Goosebumps story. The story was excellent but it felt like a young adult read. Imagine my surprise as I continued....

All the stories are terrific! Just the right length and so eloquent and authentic, you can’t help to keep reading. The stories got scarier and much darker. I absolutely adored “Pretty Little Lanterns”. Just such an awesome idea for a nasty little horror tale.

What made this book event better were the essay and the Halloween list at the end. Ronald’s thoughts about Halloweens of the past mimic my own. Our generation was extremely blessed. It was a wonderful time to be a kid. I’m sad for my own children, because I can see that being a kid is not what it used to be. Time seemed slower, more magic and creativity in the air, and Halloween was special. This is a wonderful novel for my preteen and young adult children. They can perhaps learn a little about what mom life was like as a child.

Will absolutely read more from Ronald Kelly!

[Deb Soward · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Halloween Store is a collection of seven stories full of Halloween scares. I loved it! Perfect for the Spooky season. As I read through each story I was tickled with nostalgia from horror shows of the 80's and 90's. If you are a fan of Tales From the Crypt, Tales from the Darkside, bump it up your tbr and enjoy this Halloween treat.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book full of scary Halloween short story treats and two essays that reek Nostalgia with a capital N.

The Halloween Store - 4 Stars
Mister Mack is Back in Town - 5 Stars
Blood Suede Shoes - 3 Stars
Clown Treats - 3.5 Stars
The Cistern - 3 Stars
Mister Mack is Back in Town- 5 Stars
Pretty Little Lanterns - 5 Stars
The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature! - 4 Stars
The Last Halloween: An Essay - 5 Stars
My Top 10 Halloween Stuff of the '60s & '70s! - 4 Stars

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley provided ARC.

The stories were fun and gruesome. The essays reminded me so much of my Halloweens as a kid.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5, rounded up.

The Halloween Store - 2.5/5
Mister Mack is Back in Town - 4/5
Blood Suede Shoes - 3.5/5
Clown Treats - 2.5/5
The Cistern - 3.5/5
Pretty Little Lanterns - 4.5/5
The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature - 3/5

[Nikos Sougias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Πολύ καλό, ειδικά αν έχεις μεγαλώσει με ταινίες τρόμου είναι αρκετά νοσταλγικό, θυμίζει και το Trick 'r Treat του 2007 λιγάκι. Όλα τα διηγήματα ήταν πολύ καλά. Αυτά που ξεχώρισα πάντως ήταν τα The Halloween Store, Mister Mack Is Back In Town, The Cistern και Pretty Little Lanterns!

[Michelle {Book Hangovers} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come!
For now… READ THIS BOOK!!! So good! So so Spooktacularly GOOD!!! 🙌🙌🙌

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to Crossroad Press, Ronald Kelly and Netgalley. These short stories were very bland for me. There were 2 that I rated at 4 stars. That's it. It's just that I've read short stories that pack a lifetime of personality into them. That's what I expected here. I find myself unable to care if I don't know the characters. Many short story author's can pack a lot of punch with a few short character strokes. This writer couldn't.

[Nicholas Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Halloween Store and Other All Hallows’ Eve Stories’ by Ronald Kelly: Spooky Noodles Review

Mister Glow-Bones was an amazing Halloween collection by the Southern-Fried Horror Writer himself, Ronald Kelly, and The Halloween Store and Other All Hallows’ Eve Stories is another masterpiece of a collection! The cover alone is enough to give you chills, but the stories inside are great and just as ghoulish as the cover depicts! I will rifle through each story and give you my final thoughts on this Treat of a Collection.

THE HALLOWEEN STORE – The Halloween Store is about four kids who purchase masks from a popup Halloween Store in their town. This is the title story of the collection, and honestly I understand why.
This one was AMAZING! It gave me vibes of ‘The Mask’ by R.L. Stein, where a kid buys an all too real feeling mask that alters who they are. But this story goes one step farther than the Goosebumps book did and it’s the perfect Halloween Horror Story!

MISTER MACK IS BACK IN TOWN – Mister Mack is Back! Kyle’s daughter is found in an empty drive-in movie lot and Kyle believes it may be due to someone from Kyle’s past, someone that scarred Kyle for life.
Oh man, I cannot begin to tell you how much I FREAKING LOVED this story. This is my favorite short story of all time. The first time we hear about Mister Mack and the Monster Mobile was in Mister Glow-Bones and Other Halloween Tales (another great Halloween Collection by Ronald Kelly), and in that story it’s about Kyle’s first run in with the faux memorabilia acquiring monster. That story was a favorite of mine but believe me when I say that this story is tremendously fun!

BLOOD SUEDE SHOES – This one is about a young girl who gets in the car with a bona fide rockstar. But it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
This story was intense and creepy. I loved it! But not as much as the first two stories. Still, this one was great and very, very creepy!

CLOWN TREATS – This one was about a group of trick-r-treaters that stop by their favorite teachers house. But instead of their teacher answering the door, her distressed husband does. He’s dressed as Chuckles the clown and he has some treats to pass out. This one was a short but fun one. Pretty disturbing and the ending was a blast!

THE CISTERN – This story was about a man who is overcome by nostalgia and stops at his old stomping grounds. He meets a young boy who wants him to take him to the Halloween fair. It turns ugly quick though. This one was fantastic! Loved the small-town horror vibes from this one.

PRETTY LITTLE LANTERNS – Pretty Little Lanterns is about a sheriff that is looking for the serial killer named Jack that haunts their part of the country. A librarian thinks she knows who did it but needs the Sheriff’s help. This story was an extreme story, and it was brutally awesome! I loved the nod to a certain historic killer and that ending. Wow! I was not expecting that! Ronald Kelly hooks his claws into you with this one and doesn’t let go!

THE AMAZING AND TOTALLY AWESOME FRIGHT CREATURE – Two kids find a comic book ad for The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature, and when they find out that it’s still for sale, they purchase it. This one was just fang-tastic! I say fang-tastic because they decide to give the creature the menacing name Fang, which is ironic because the creature they get is tiny and has no fangs. I loved this story a lot! I just loved it so freaking much!

THE LAST HALLOWEEN: AN ESSAY – This was a fun essay about Ronald Kelly’s last Halloween. It was bittersweet. On one hand it was cool to see how Ron spent his last Halloween, but at the same time knowing it was his last was kind of sad.

MY TOP 10 FAVORITE HALLOWEEN STUFF OF THE '60s and '70s – Great top ten that makes my top ten videos fair in comparison!

Overall, I give this collection Five Freaking Stars, or should I say Glow-Bone Skulls! Every story in this one was a HIT for me! An absolute banger of a collection! I recommend this to anyone who wants to get into the spooky season with a charming collection of All Hallows’ Eve tales that will surely creep, disturb, and even at times make you smile.

[RoseDevoursBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Halloween-themed horror short story collection is the perfect read for October, with every story being outstanding and leaving me eagerly anticipating the next story after the last - it’s the literary equivalent to unwrapping one delicious Halloween treat after another!

You’ll encounter Halloween costumes that come to life, a child-snatching boogeyman, a rockstar from the depths of hell, creepy clowns, murder mysteries, Halloween festivals, and mail-order creature pets! How do I pick just one favorite story when the majority are five-star fright fests? Some of these were also shocking and super unsettling, my eyes bulged out of my head at some of these endings - looking at you “Pretty Little Lanterns.” 😱

Kelly's writing style is engaging and effortless to follow with characters that are easy to connect with. His passion for Halloween shines through in vivid descriptions of trick-or-treaters, the crunch of autumn leaves, and the distinctive scents of latex, greasepaint and blood! The Halloween essay at the end of the book that details his personal experiences from the late 1960s and early 1970s, is particularly worth reading.

If you’re looking to squeeze in one last book this October, pick this one – it's a quickie at just 150 pages and can be devoured in one or two tasty sittings!

[Horror Sickness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for seven horrific tales for spooky season. Some of these stories take place during Halloween and others don’t but they all guarantee a disturbing and macabre tale.

My favorite story was definitely Pretty Little Lanterns followed up by Clown Treats. What can I say, I love some disturbing Halloween tales.

Apart from the great seven horror tales, the author also included a section in which he talked about his favorite Halloween things from the 60s and 70s and how things have changed throughout the years.

[Jason Nickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short horror stories and Halloween go hand in hand, which makes this book the perfect read for the season. Kelly brews up some great stories here, including one tying into Jack The ripper. There are also some cool nods to his earlier work.

[CreativePumpkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read to get you in the spooky mood for Halloween time. Love that each story is easy to follow and the pov is simple to understand. Will say that is very detailed with the events that transpire in each story. Overall a great seasonal book to pick up

[Matt Ferenczy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruesome read! I really enjoyed it

[Sonora Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful Halloween treats!