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Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares
A petty thief steals a car and the curse that comes with it…
An abandoned laptop leads an overstressed software designer to the dark web, where ruthless traders barter in something more intangible than money…
A small-town cop shows up for a routine eviction, but finds an abomination hidden beneath the house…
From the mind of Ichabod Ebenezer, author of Between Bloom and Decay and A Shadow Stained in Blood, comes a collection of short stories destined to sink its teeth into your bones. Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares lures readers into a world of sentient shadows where every smile comes quiet in the black. A world where no object is ordinary, and trusting in the mundane can get you killed. For the readers who wish to be haunted—this collection will keep you up at night, within reach of a nightlight and a warm blanket against the dark.
An abandoned laptop leads an overstressed software designer to the dark web, where ruthless traders barter in something more intangible than money…
A small-town cop shows up for a routine eviction, but finds an abomination hidden beneath the house…
From the mind of Ichabod Ebenezer, author of Between Bloom and Decay and A Shadow Stained in Blood, comes a collection of short stories destined to sink its teeth into your bones. Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares lures readers into a world of sentient shadows where every smile comes quiet in the black. A world where no object is ordinary, and trusting in the mundane can get you killed. For the readers who wish to be haunted—this collection will keep you up at night, within reach of a nightlight and a warm blanket against the dark.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2021
3 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 28, 2021
Beyond the Rail is a riveting collection of dark stories. These original tales are haunting, unsettling, and tense from start to finish. This is an author to keep an eye on, for sure.
May 3, 2022
Beyond the Rail and other nightmares...... through BookTasters, I got a copy of the book to give my honest review and I must say I had an amazing time reading each story. From Singalong to the last nightmare, it was captivating, twisted and relatable. As a Stephen King fan, it gave me great joy to immerse myself in each riveting story with unexpected endings and wish it could be made into a mini series. I'd definitely enjoy watching it. Well done Sir Ichabod and thank you for this awesome opportunity 👏
June 28, 2021
Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares is a beautifully creepy horror and dark fiction collection that will leave you aghast for many reasons.
A petty thief steals a car and the curse that comes with it…An abandoned laptop leads an overstressed software designer to the dark web, where ruthless traders barter in something more intangible than money… A small-town cop shows up for a routine eviction, but finds an abomination hidden beneath the house… Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares lures readers into a world of sentient shadows where every smile comes quiet in the black. A world where no object is ordinary, and trusting in the mundane can get you killed.
I love it when an expert of the genre writes the genre. Based on the awesome author's note at the end, Ebenezer has collected these stories from many years of writing and if not many years (because he doesn't site dates, necessarily) definitely from much of his effort. I can tell that he has spent much time studying the greats in horror and dark literature and films. That said, the stories illustrate that. The plot of every single story is perfectly executed. There were a few where I felt I need a tad bit more to gain full enlightenment to the reason behind the story, but every tale was so entertaining, so creepy and so well done.
My favorite stories featured female main characters. I'm a sucker for a kick-ass lady character. Two of my favorites were "Condemned" and "Beyond the Rail". Without spoiling anything, I will say that the namesake story in this book is shockingly perfect as the flagship tale. I Got Chills, at the end. The other thing I loved about the stories, plot-wise, was that Ebenezer addressed so many elements of horror, giving everyone a taste of their favorite scares. I'm talking werewolves, zombies, curses, ghosts of numerous varieties, aliens, demons, and mythic creatures I can't even categorize. I was floored by the variety.
As for characters, I own all, and have read most of Ebenezer's books and one thing I love about his style is that he really knows how to treat a character. He writes empowered women and tough guys, but he also really knows how to work a bad guy. Check out "Two Shadows, One Gun" if you wanna see what I mean. Additionally, these stories are short and he does an amazing job keeping the side characters from weighing the story down or confusing the reader on who the most important character is.
Each story has its own world, except for a fun coincidence where two stories might be related (?), check the author's note if you missed it. The settings for the tales are rich. I felt like I was in the lab, in the mansion, in the car with the characters. In some case, I could recall a setting for days after reading. It was well done and immersive.
I usually talk about themes right about now but what can I say about a theme that features creeping out your reader? It worked! Focusing on the fundamentals of horror and dark fiction, all the creepiness was on point and I literally had chills after reading a few of these. Even some were so deep, the chills weren't from fear but from wondering, "what if this really happened?". Although these stories were written for different reasons, Ebenezer curated them just right, creating a solid collection with similar yet very different themes.
I highly recommend this book. The writing style is concise and easy to manage, the stories are fun, engaging and will send a shiver up your spine. This is an awesome collection for those who want to start reading horror but may be a little scared to jump in, no pun intended.
A petty thief steals a car and the curse that comes with it…An abandoned laptop leads an overstressed software designer to the dark web, where ruthless traders barter in something more intangible than money… A small-town cop shows up for a routine eviction, but finds an abomination hidden beneath the house… Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares lures readers into a world of sentient shadows where every smile comes quiet in the black. A world where no object is ordinary, and trusting in the mundane can get you killed.
I love it when an expert of the genre writes the genre. Based on the awesome author's note at the end, Ebenezer has collected these stories from many years of writing and if not many years (because he doesn't site dates, necessarily) definitely from much of his effort. I can tell that he has spent much time studying the greats in horror and dark literature and films. That said, the stories illustrate that. The plot of every single story is perfectly executed. There were a few where I felt I need a tad bit more to gain full enlightenment to the reason behind the story, but every tale was so entertaining, so creepy and so well done.
My favorite stories featured female main characters. I'm a sucker for a kick-ass lady character. Two of my favorites were "Condemned" and "Beyond the Rail". Without spoiling anything, I will say that the namesake story in this book is shockingly perfect as the flagship tale. I Got Chills, at the end. The other thing I loved about the stories, plot-wise, was that Ebenezer addressed so many elements of horror, giving everyone a taste of their favorite scares. I'm talking werewolves, zombies, curses, ghosts of numerous varieties, aliens, demons, and mythic creatures I can't even categorize. I was floored by the variety.
As for characters, I own all, and have read most of Ebenezer's books and one thing I love about his style is that he really knows how to treat a character. He writes empowered women and tough guys, but he also really knows how to work a bad guy. Check out "Two Shadows, One Gun" if you wanna see what I mean. Additionally, these stories are short and he does an amazing job keeping the side characters from weighing the story down or confusing the reader on who the most important character is.
Each story has its own world, except for a fun coincidence where two stories might be related (?), check the author's note if you missed it. The settings for the tales are rich. I felt like I was in the lab, in the mansion, in the car with the characters. In some case, I could recall a setting for days after reading. It was well done and immersive.
I usually talk about themes right about now but what can I say about a theme that features creeping out your reader? It worked! Focusing on the fundamentals of horror and dark fiction, all the creepiness was on point and I literally had chills after reading a few of these. Even some were so deep, the chills weren't from fear but from wondering, "what if this really happened?". Although these stories were written for different reasons, Ebenezer curated them just right, creating a solid collection with similar yet very different themes.
I highly recommend this book. The writing style is concise and easy to manage, the stories are fun, engaging and will send a shiver up your spine. This is an awesome collection for those who want to start reading horror but may be a little scared to jump in, no pun intended.
June 17, 2021
BEYOND THE RAIL AND OTHER NIGHTMARES is a collection of 13 short stories of horror. The collection includes tales of ghosts, zombies, werewolves, the occult, and some that are just classic horror.
As with any collection, I found some of the stories were better than others, but overall this is a solid group of tales. When I tallied my rating of each individual story, I came up with six that I loved, four that were pretty good, two that were just OK, and only one that I thought missed the mark. For a collection, that's a great tally.
"Singalong," "The Permanent Clerk," "Condemned," "The Raven," and "Two Shadows, One Gun" all had great characters as well as a great story. "Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother" wasn't as strong on character development but, unusual for a work of fiction, it didn't matter. The story itself was strong enough to carry the reader along.
The stories that were pretty good either had good character development with a story that missed a bit, or had a good story that needed stronger characters. Of the two that were just OK, one had a strong character but a weak story, and the other had a meh character with a meh story. The one that missed the mark had a decent character, but it seemed like the author couldn't figure out what story he wanted to tell.
Of course, all of this is subjective, and I don't want to bias anyone against a given story, which is why I'm not naming titles other than the ones I loved. The collection itself is worth reading, and please form your own opinions on each story.
By and large, the stories were original and creatively told. Many of them built tension along the way, then surprised the reader with a clever twist. A lot of them had elements of mystery, and there was some great psychological horror. Several of these tales stuck with me even after I'd put the book down.
Ichabod Ebenezer also creates characters who are well-developed and relatable, which is especially impressive given the constraints of the short story.
Full disclosure--I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As with any collection, I found some of the stories were better than others, but overall this is a solid group of tales. When I tallied my rating of each individual story, I came up with six that I loved, four that were pretty good, two that were just OK, and only one that I thought missed the mark. For a collection, that's a great tally.
"Singalong," "The Permanent Clerk," "Condemned," "The Raven," and "Two Shadows, One Gun" all had great characters as well as a great story. "Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother" wasn't as strong on character development but, unusual for a work of fiction, it didn't matter. The story itself was strong enough to carry the reader along.
The stories that were pretty good either had good character development with a story that missed a bit, or had a good story that needed stronger characters. Of the two that were just OK, one had a strong character but a weak story, and the other had a meh character with a meh story. The one that missed the mark had a decent character, but it seemed like the author couldn't figure out what story he wanted to tell.
Of course, all of this is subjective, and I don't want to bias anyone against a given story, which is why I'm not naming titles other than the ones I loved. The collection itself is worth reading, and please form your own opinions on each story.
By and large, the stories were original and creatively told. Many of them built tension along the way, then surprised the reader with a clever twist. A lot of them had elements of mystery, and there was some great psychological horror. Several of these tales stuck with me even after I'd put the book down.
Ichabod Ebenezer also creates characters who are well-developed and relatable, which is especially impressive given the constraints of the short story.
Full disclosure--I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2021
I was given an ARC of Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares from the author. There are 13 amazing horror stories that will keep you reading.
I loved each story for each own unique horror. Each one has an amazing plot and will written characters.
The first story Singalong has the perfect title for the plot.
The second story Transplant had me curious as to what was going on with Daryl and the main character Kevin. Then once I started to figured it out, it had my heart racing until the very end.
The third story Fertile Minds was a fun and interesting story. I love the independence of the main character.
The fourth story A Permanent Clerk is my favourite one so far. I love a good ghost story.
Condemned is the fifth story. It is creepy and impossible to stop reading. Another favourite.
The Nocturnal Habits of the Late Derek Grey, the sixth story and WOW is all I can say. This one gave me goosebumps.
The 7th story is The Ritual- another amazing story.
The 8th The Raven another favourite of mine. Made my heart race and I didn't want to stop reading it.
The Trick of the Light is the 9th story. I enjoyed this one but predicted what would happen.
Two Hundred Miles is the 10th story and quickly became one of my favourites even though I don't usually like this type of story. I liked Patrick and his family.
The 11th story is Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother. I liked this one even though I guessed what was going on. It was very descriptive and I loved how I could picture everything.
The 12th story is Beyond the Rail is a good story.
The final story is Two Shadows, One Gun and is another favourite. I felt like I was right there watching the heart racing action take place.
I loved each story for each own unique horror. Each one has an amazing plot and will written characters.
The first story Singalong has the perfect title for the plot.
The second story Transplant had me curious as to what was going on with Daryl and the main character Kevin. Then once I started to figured it out, it had my heart racing until the very end.
The third story Fertile Minds was a fun and interesting story. I love the independence of the main character.
The fourth story A Permanent Clerk is my favourite one so far. I love a good ghost story.
Condemned is the fifth story. It is creepy and impossible to stop reading. Another favourite.
The Nocturnal Habits of the Late Derek Grey, the sixth story and WOW is all I can say. This one gave me goosebumps.
The 7th story is The Ritual- another amazing story.
The 8th The Raven another favourite of mine. Made my heart race and I didn't want to stop reading it.
The Trick of the Light is the 9th story. I enjoyed this one but predicted what would happen.
Two Hundred Miles is the 10th story and quickly became one of my favourites even though I don't usually like this type of story. I liked Patrick and his family.
The 11th story is Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother. I liked this one even though I guessed what was going on. It was very descriptive and I loved how I could picture everything.
The 12th story is Beyond the Rail is a good story.
The final story is Two Shadows, One Gun and is another favourite. I felt like I was right there watching the heart racing action take place.
December 15, 2022
What a collection of stories .I loved the condemned story. And that cop findings eviction site. This short story collection is creepy and authors effort in writing such stories shines.
Go for it.
Go for it.
October 28, 2021
Got to read this book through the Booktasters honest review program—thanks, guys.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the author's name. It's intriguing and somewhat befits a collection of eerie stories.
Ichabod's stories are riveting and filled with tension that urges you to finish one nightmare after the other. It took me a few hours to finish, and I couldn't drop it even though I tried.
Ichabod is a great writer.
I especially liked Sing-along, Fertile minds, Agatha Hemsley: beloved mother, and Two Shadows One Gun.
Didn't really care for Transplant(too cliche, seemed suited for a YA story than horror) and Raven. And I felt Ritual should've had a much stronger ending.
However, the book is a page-turner, and I'll love to read more from Ichabod Ebenezer.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the author's name. It's intriguing and somewhat befits a collection of eerie stories.
Ichabod's stories are riveting and filled with tension that urges you to finish one nightmare after the other. It took me a few hours to finish, and I couldn't drop it even though I tried.
Ichabod is a great writer.
I especially liked Sing-along, Fertile minds, Agatha Hemsley: beloved mother, and Two Shadows One Gun.
Didn't really care for Transplant(too cliche, seemed suited for a YA story than horror) and Raven. And I felt Ritual should've had a much stronger ending.
However, the book is a page-turner, and I'll love to read more from Ichabod Ebenezer.
August 16, 2022
Beyond the Rail and other Nightmares is a collection of short horror by Ichabod Ebenezer that brings several classic stories to life in fresh and thrilling ways. Some stories like Singalong or The Ritual bring their own levity to horror while others follow the hopelessly desperate like in Transplant or The Permanent Clerk. Each story finds its own way to challenge the characters and it’s fascinating to see how they respond. Among the thirteen entries of this collection, there’s a little something for almost any horror fan.
All that said, I left a couple bullet-point comments for each story below. I had to keep them short to avoid spoiling any stories.
Singalong
This was an excellent start to the collection. I didn’t love the main character but to be honest, given the subject matter, that may be for the best. While not objectively the most horrifying thing that could happen, constant children’s music is a creative way to push someone over the edge.
Transplant
Really strong twist on a classic story. I was able to connect with this character more than the last one and really felt his desire to be better and start a new life and the impact it had on his family could really be felt in character interactions.
Fertile Minds
It took a bit for me to get into this one but once I did I was hooked. Now all I want in life is a Miss Pepperdine the Alchemist show. Delightful Victorian supernatural investigator? Hell yes.
The Permanent Clerk
Fantastic ghost story. Blending the discovery of the impossible with the desperation that keeps one from running away. Engaging, thrilling and another really endearing main character
Condemned
I think it was during this one that I realized this whole book feels like a Twilight Zone marathon. Watching different individuals fall into bizarre situations and wrestle with what to do next. It went from “ew, sketchy” to “WTF” in an eyeblink and never looked back.
The Nocturnal Habits of the Late Derek Gray
Well this is basically a nightmare. I simultaneously want more of this story and never want to think of it again. Except Bergeron scoring a hat trick against the Sabres. That made me chuckle, even as a Devils fan.
The Ritual
I think I just slipped into some Lovecraftian hell. And then I laughed. And then I groaned. This is on the shorter side, especially compared to the last several but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
The Raven
I won’t lie, I was expecting something gothic given the title. Instead I got a wild kind of black market insanity and a plague mask. I’m okay with this transaction.
Trick of the Light
This is probably the first one I didn’t enjoy which isn’t even to say it was bad - it just didn’t resonate with me very much. Maybe if it was longer and there was more than a minute or two of this old sailor being superstitious to set the tone it could have landed a bit better for me.
Two Hundred Miles
Probably one of the more realistic looks at how this sort of situation would occur in America. I didn’t connect all that well with the main character but this story felt more story focused than character.
Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother
This was spectacular. Just an anecdote of a deeply mysterious portrait. Simple, effective and brilliantly executed.
Beyond the Rail
For sure one of the more somber entries to this anthology. Poetic, if immeasurably tragic, this piece digs into the complex reality of grief and mourning and really stuck with me.
Two Shadows, One Gun
Definitely one of my favorites in the bunch. The intersection between old west gunslinging and supernatural mystery was a lot of fun. The characters were rich and I would have loved seeing this expanded into a full novel.
All that said, I left a couple bullet-point comments for each story below. I had to keep them short to avoid spoiling any stories.
Singalong
This was an excellent start to the collection. I didn’t love the main character but to be honest, given the subject matter, that may be for the best. While not objectively the most horrifying thing that could happen, constant children’s music is a creative way to push someone over the edge.
Transplant
Really strong twist on a classic story. I was able to connect with this character more than the last one and really felt his desire to be better and start a new life and the impact it had on his family could really be felt in character interactions.
Fertile Minds
It took a bit for me to get into this one but once I did I was hooked. Now all I want in life is a Miss Pepperdine the Alchemist show. Delightful Victorian supernatural investigator? Hell yes.
The Permanent Clerk
Fantastic ghost story. Blending the discovery of the impossible with the desperation that keeps one from running away. Engaging, thrilling and another really endearing main character
Condemned
I think it was during this one that I realized this whole book feels like a Twilight Zone marathon. Watching different individuals fall into bizarre situations and wrestle with what to do next. It went from “ew, sketchy” to “WTF” in an eyeblink and never looked back.
The Nocturnal Habits of the Late Derek Gray
Well this is basically a nightmare. I simultaneously want more of this story and never want to think of it again. Except Bergeron scoring a hat trick against the Sabres. That made me chuckle, even as a Devils fan.
The Ritual
I think I just slipped into some Lovecraftian hell. And then I laughed. And then I groaned. This is on the shorter side, especially compared to the last several but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
The Raven
I won’t lie, I was expecting something gothic given the title. Instead I got a wild kind of black market insanity and a plague mask. I’m okay with this transaction.
Trick of the Light
This is probably the first one I didn’t enjoy which isn’t even to say it was bad - it just didn’t resonate with me very much. Maybe if it was longer and there was more than a minute or two of this old sailor being superstitious to set the tone it could have landed a bit better for me.
Two Hundred Miles
Probably one of the more realistic looks at how this sort of situation would occur in America. I didn’t connect all that well with the main character but this story felt more story focused than character.
Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother
This was spectacular. Just an anecdote of a deeply mysterious portrait. Simple, effective and brilliantly executed.
Beyond the Rail
For sure one of the more somber entries to this anthology. Poetic, if immeasurably tragic, this piece digs into the complex reality of grief and mourning and really stuck with me.
Two Shadows, One Gun
Definitely one of my favorites in the bunch. The intersection between old west gunslinging and supernatural mystery was a lot of fun. The characters were rich and I would have loved seeing this expanded into a full novel.
January 1, 2023
As the title says, this book is a collection of thirteen stories of horror and darkness.
In his collection of wonderful stories, the writer deals with many ideas and terrifying stories, including ghosts, werewolves, and the dark web, in addition to new ideas such as insects dressing people up and impersonating them.
As a person who loves horror movies in particular, and horror stories in general, I loved the book very much
It is true that in some of the stories I felt bored at first and was lazy to complete them, but soon the features of the idea and the story became clear, and my enthusiasm and desire to read more increased.
I especially liked the story of the ghost in the office and thought it would be a great idea for a horror movie, I was shocked for a while after the truth about the ghost was finally revealed.
In addition to the story of the raven and the dark web, its idea is beautiful, and the plot twist at the end of the story was amazing and unexpected
This book as a whole, if it turns into a series of 13 episodes, will be amazing, especially since each story has a certain twist at the end, which increases the aesthetic of the stories.
I do not detract from the value of the book. On the contrary, I am very impressed with what I have read. I think that it deserves to be visual stories that everyone can see. Not everyone likes to read.
But frankly, the writing style was not good throughout the book, some stories were written very carefully and some not so much.
A very good book and worth reading.
In his collection of wonderful stories, the writer deals with many ideas and terrifying stories, including ghosts, werewolves, and the dark web, in addition to new ideas such as insects dressing people up and impersonating them.
As a person who loves horror movies in particular, and horror stories in general, I loved the book very much
It is true that in some of the stories I felt bored at first and was lazy to complete them, but soon the features of the idea and the story became clear, and my enthusiasm and desire to read more increased.
I especially liked the story of the ghost in the office and thought it would be a great idea for a horror movie, I was shocked for a while after the truth about the ghost was finally revealed.
In addition to the story of the raven and the dark web, its idea is beautiful, and the plot twist at the end of the story was amazing and unexpected
This book as a whole, if it turns into a series of 13 episodes, will be amazing, especially since each story has a certain twist at the end, which increases the aesthetic of the stories.
I do not detract from the value of the book. On the contrary, I am very impressed with what I have read. I think that it deserves to be visual stories that everyone can see. Not everyone likes to read.
But frankly, the writing style was not good throughout the book, some stories were written very carefully and some not so much.
A very good book and worth reading.
August 5, 2022
I found this an entertaining collection of short stories.
Some friends of mine who are keen readers have told me that they don't like short stories. However, I find them an enjoyable escape if I want a light, easy read. What I often find with a collection of short stories is that each story is different from the last, as was the case here. Each story was a different kind of scare, a different kind of horror, a different kind of unease. Some of the stories were ambiguous, but ambiguity is something I enjoy when reading horror/ghost stories. I think the title story was perhaps my favourite, because I found it quite poignant and emotionally moving, as well as chilling.
I've read several short story collections like this before, and they're always spark my interest, so if the author has written anything else similar to this, I would probably be interested in reading that too.
Some friends of mine who are keen readers have told me that they don't like short stories. However, I find them an enjoyable escape if I want a light, easy read. What I often find with a collection of short stories is that each story is different from the last, as was the case here. Each story was a different kind of scare, a different kind of horror, a different kind of unease. Some of the stories were ambiguous, but ambiguity is something I enjoy when reading horror/ghost stories. I think the title story was perhaps my favourite, because I found it quite poignant and emotionally moving, as well as chilling.
I've read several short story collections like this before, and they're always spark my interest, so if the author has written anything else similar to this, I would probably be interested in reading that too.
October 19, 2022
When I begin a new horror book, the anticipation is always the same: excitement and fear! This anticipation becomes double, if it is a collection of short stories. That's why I was eager to read Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares by Ichabod Ebenezer, a new writer for me which means a new territory to explore.
First, I found this collection really interesting. However, it didn’t achieve the mission to get me scared and keep me on the edge. It did entertain me though, and I enjoyed most of it.
Most of the tales have original plots. I cite here Condemned, Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother, Beyond the Rail. I loved the idea behind each story. It is smart and engaging; the mystery and tension in each of these tales were building up in every page and scene. The author created an atmosphere of danger and doom that loom in the distance, waiting to fall. Another story that caught my attention was The Permanent Clerk where characters and readers share the same hesitation and are asking what if?
I liked the descriptive style of the author who skillfully painted the ambiance, well described the backdrop and smartly introduced the characters. It is concise, cinematic, a visual storytelling.
Along good ones come stories that were unfortunately unsatisfactory and dull. The actions were too fast to follow, the characters failed to have layers for the readers to feel them: these stories had a potential to be better if they were better developed but they were told in a fast paced manner without giving the reader the satisfaction to enjoy them.
Overall verdict, the book is entertaining and worth reading. Definitely, I am interested to read more of Ebenezer 's books.
First, I found this collection really interesting. However, it didn’t achieve the mission to get me scared and keep me on the edge. It did entertain me though, and I enjoyed most of it.
Most of the tales have original plots. I cite here Condemned, Agatha Hemsley, Beloved Mother, Beyond the Rail. I loved the idea behind each story. It is smart and engaging; the mystery and tension in each of these tales were building up in every page and scene. The author created an atmosphere of danger and doom that loom in the distance, waiting to fall. Another story that caught my attention was The Permanent Clerk where characters and readers share the same hesitation and are asking what if?
I liked the descriptive style of the author who skillfully painted the ambiance, well described the backdrop and smartly introduced the characters. It is concise, cinematic, a visual storytelling.
Along good ones come stories that were unfortunately unsatisfactory and dull. The actions were too fast to follow, the characters failed to have layers for the readers to feel them: these stories had a potential to be better if they were better developed but they were told in a fast paced manner without giving the reader the satisfaction to enjoy them.
Overall verdict, the book is entertaining and worth reading. Definitely, I am interested to read more of Ebenezer 's books.
July 2, 2021
I’ve long found Ichabod Ebenezer’s writing to be compulsively addictive, and Beyond the Rail and Other Nightmares is no exception. In this collection of short horror fiction we are chilled sometimes by the supernatural, and sometimes by our own psychological frailties. The characters feel real, the pace is brisk, and our heroes don’t always succeed. My favourite story was “Fertile Minds”, which introduces us to Victorian adventuress and alchemist, Chelsea Pepperdine, someone whose acquaintance I look forward to renewing. If you enjoy horror fiction, do get hold of this very fine collection.
December 15, 2022
To say I was creeped out while reading this one would be an understatement. I’m still scared as I am writing this review. Seriously, Ichabod Ebenezer is really underrated. I’m a fan of his writing from now on.
July 16, 2021
It's been a long time since I read anything in the horror genre, and Beyond the Rail reminded me how much I once enjoyed a good scare. The author takes the classics - werewolves, ghosts, hauntings - and puts a modern twist on them that gives them a little extra "flavor". From the disturbing childhood songs of Singalong to the intimate eeriness of The Raven, Beyond the Rails is a must-read for any fans of class horror.
June 29, 2021
Tales fun and creepy
Mr. Ebenezer's collection of tales are full of delicious twists and turns, all leading us, as readers, to dark and mysterious places. From cursed car keys to mind-controlling plants, these stories offer a variety of settings, characters, time periods, and most importantly, original ideas that kept us engaged and entertained.
Mr. Ebenezer's collection of tales are full of delicious twists and turns, all leading us, as readers, to dark and mysterious places. From cursed car keys to mind-controlling plants, these stories offer a variety of settings, characters, time periods, and most importantly, original ideas that kept us engaged and entertained.
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October 21, 2022When I was younger, I had a book collection of Greek mythology. Couple of the stories in this collection reminded me of those.
In no way related to that theme, but it is more in the way that they were told, with the tragedies and the concluded end. You know there's going to be something shocking and the protagonist won't survive, but it's also a short story so you don't get to feel attached but just watch it unfold.
Not all the stories, though. In fact this was a very diverse collection, some parts were more bland and some parts had way more suspense. For someone who reads a lot of horror that I don't even get to put on my Goodreads, I'd say it was clear when something wasn't intended to make us scared and uncomfortable or when the descriptions got detailed for that sole purpose.
After I started noticing that some of the stories here had an end where the story finished with nothing more to tell while the others had a more open ending, it was fun trying to guess in what way each story would be completed.
The stories had all sorts of elements and weren't related to eachother, have to admit the sudden change into first POV in the middle of the book surprised me, however it only lasted for about 2 of them.
Some of the stories very obviously had research put into it which was a nice touch into helping them seem more credible in the storybuilding for that "so what if this was real" feeling. Hey if a plant suddenly started mind-controlling people, I would like to at least know hypothetically how.
Overall, it was quite enjoyable and entertaining getting to read this. Appreciate the author's notes in the end telling us what inspired each part.
Thank you to the author for the free copy of the e-book in exchange for a honest review and to Booktasters for connecting us~
In no way related to that theme, but it is more in the way that they were told, with the tragedies and the concluded end. You know there's going to be something shocking and the protagonist won't survive, but it's also a short story so you don't get to feel attached but just watch it unfold.
Not all the stories, though. In fact this was a very diverse collection, some parts were more bland and some parts had way more suspense. For someone who reads a lot of horror that I don't even get to put on my Goodreads, I'd say it was clear when something wasn't intended to make us scared and uncomfortable or when the descriptions got detailed for that sole purpose.
After I started noticing that some of the stories here had an end where the story finished with nothing more to tell while the others had a more open ending, it was fun trying to guess in what way each story would be completed.
The stories had all sorts of elements and weren't related to eachother, have to admit the sudden change into first POV in the middle of the book surprised me, however it only lasted for about 2 of them.
Some of the stories very obviously had research put into it which was a nice touch into helping them seem more credible in the storybuilding for that "so what if this was real" feeling. Hey if a plant suddenly started mind-controlling people, I would like to at least know hypothetically how.
Overall, it was quite enjoyable and entertaining getting to read this. Appreciate the author's notes in the end telling us what inspired each part.
Thank you to the author for the free copy of the e-book in exchange for a honest review and to Booktasters for connecting us~
June 11, 2023
I am a horror addict, I sleep listening to horror podcasts and enjoy a good heart racing story.
But this is my first time reading a horror book in English. I was skeptical but I enjoyed it . The flow is nice in this book, In fact, I think this book can be a great movie. From the beginning it grabbed my attention by throwing a bunch of characters in a situation with no context , prompting suspense. Then some innovative interesting yet somewhat spooky events started to take place. The stories in this book are not your typical scary ones. Later the magic unfolds and the weird situation gets more complicated yet intriguing. The story moves slowly at the beginning. Then the base becomes more rapid. However I need to mention that the book is not dreadful or scary, rather it leans more toward being silly spooky or just weird. Not in a bad way though. I enjoyed the easy language and the writing style. I want to add that I travel a lot so I liked that this book was small and easy to enjoy on a plane.
But this is my first time reading a horror book in English. I was skeptical but I enjoyed it . The flow is nice in this book, In fact, I think this book can be a great movie. From the beginning it grabbed my attention by throwing a bunch of characters in a situation with no context , prompting suspense. Then some innovative interesting yet somewhat spooky events started to take place. The stories in this book are not your typical scary ones. Later the magic unfolds and the weird situation gets more complicated yet intriguing. The story moves slowly at the beginning. Then the base becomes more rapid. However I need to mention that the book is not dreadful or scary, rather it leans more toward being silly spooky or just weird. Not in a bad way though. I enjoyed the easy language and the writing style. I want to add that I travel a lot so I liked that this book was small and easy to enjoy on a plane.
August 8, 2022
A thief who couldn't follow simple instructions, finds himself stuck with a cursed car key.
A rather unusual mind-altering cactus.
A simple call for a routine eviction which turns into Officer LaThanya's worst nightmare.
A surprisingly conversational demon.
A lost and found laptop reveals darkweb transactions involving some intangible currencies.
These are merely some of the horrors that await you in the amazing book "Beyond the rail and other nightmares"
THOUGHTS
Every story was concise and straight to the point, keeping you glued for beginning to the end.
The book contains every form of horror you could think of, from werewolves, to demons and even curses.
Although some of the stories were a lot more captivating than others, the author did an exceptional job of pulling you in with his words, and once you start a story, you can't put down the book until you see the end.
If you are a fan and lover of a good horror story, I highly recommend this book.
A rather unusual mind-altering cactus.
A simple call for a routine eviction which turns into Officer LaThanya's worst nightmare.
A surprisingly conversational demon.
A lost and found laptop reveals darkweb transactions involving some intangible currencies.
These are merely some of the horrors that await you in the amazing book "Beyond the rail and other nightmares"
THOUGHTS
Every story was concise and straight to the point, keeping you glued for beginning to the end.
The book contains every form of horror you could think of, from werewolves, to demons and even curses.
Although some of the stories were a lot more captivating than others, the author did an exceptional job of pulling you in with his words, and once you start a story, you can't put down the book until you see the end.
If you are a fan and lover of a good horror story, I highly recommend this book.
August 20, 2022
OK - short horror stories. Beyond the Rail is a collection of such, written by an author with an intriguing penname of Ichabod Ebenezer. As I'm reading these selections, I'm thinking, "What an interesting undertaking, creating these life or death (mostly death) scenarios with no restrictions - your characters can be insane, or werewolves, or intelligent plants which can kill people, or ghosts which kill by touch." A variety of inordinate things can become deadly - evaluating a painting, stealing a car which plays exclusively children's music on the radio, getting an organ transplant from a werewolf, befriending a deadly plant, maintaining a condemned house, having a changed personality, and being slightly less proficient in a shootout.
I had fun reading (Ebenezer) Scrooge's stories. I think you will too.
I had fun reading (Ebenezer) Scrooge's stories. I think you will too.
January 10, 2023
Horror shorts done right!!
Every single one of this stories keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. There wasn’t a single story here that did not have a gripping effect from the get go.
To me all the stories have twilight feel but with a lot more suspense and a little more robust, all the characters were so well done you could feel a connection, even though each one was just a few pages long.
The stories were complex, terrifying, very horror genera while staying grounded, even the more fantastical ones did not feel over the top!!
I highly recommend!!
Every single one of this stories keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. There wasn’t a single story here that did not have a gripping effect from the get go.
To me all the stories have twilight feel but with a lot more suspense and a little more robust, all the characters were so well done you could feel a connection, even though each one was just a few pages long.
The stories were complex, terrifying, very horror genera while staying grounded, even the more fantastical ones did not feel over the top!!
I highly recommend!!
October 24, 2022
*Received a copy of the book via BookTasters in exchange for an honest review*
This book gave me chills! I loved how each story is different from one another and is carefully curated. It got me wanting more!
My favorite story from all the 13 tales is the one with plants as someone who studies biology for a living. It made me think of the what ifs in this real world.
Kudos to the author of this book!
This book gave me chills! I loved how each story is different from one another and is carefully curated. It got me wanting more!
My favorite story from all the 13 tales is the one with plants as someone who studies biology for a living. It made me think of the what ifs in this real world.
Kudos to the author of this book!
August 18, 2022
Who doesn't like a good horror story? This book offers 13 thrilling tales that kept me on the edge of my seat. The plots were well thought of and laid out. It's easy to immerse in the story as if you're directly experiencing the horror. Singalong was the perfect start to this book. The only thing that I regret is reading this at night.
August 26, 2022
I want to thank the author and Booktasters for a chance to review this.
I enjoyed this. I liked the anthology,and each story was really it's own. Each bringing it's own scare factor so there is a little something for everyone. Zombies, Ghosts, Curses, and more. At the end the author goes into the stories a little bit,and I enjoyed that as well. Check this book out.
I enjoyed this. I liked the anthology,and each story was really it's own. Each bringing it's own scare factor so there is a little something for everyone. Zombies, Ghosts, Curses, and more. At the end the author goes into the stories a little bit,and I enjoyed that as well. Check this book out.
December 18, 2022
I was asked to review this book by Booktasters, and I must say,it was thrilling. I love short stories. They offer a quick read while on break or on the bus. My favorite is the story about “The Permanent Clerk “. As a child I heard,that if you get touched by a ghost you will died. I always thought that was true or at least had a hint of truth to it. I don’t believe that anymore. I just how the story unfolds. Therefore I highly recommend you read this book. I’m telling if you love quick reads,read it.
December 14, 2021
Beyond the Rail will offer you thirteen amazing horror stories that will keep you awake at night or at least make it very difficult for you to sleep. It's very well written and each story has its own special way of scaring you. Congratulations to the author for this great book!!
March 5, 2022
There many stories in this book and I really loved the Beyond the Rail because it's very interesting especially the character Elie wife of the chester.
September 11, 2022
Really great collection of creepy horror stories. An easy read, and good for getting in a spooky mood!
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