Devil's Night

by Curtis M. Lawson, Joe Morey (Editor)

Bear witness to the ghosts and dark gods of Motor City, revealed by the light of a fiery cityscape. It’s the night before Halloween and Detroit is burning in a celebration of arson and vandalism. Devil’s Night is a unique collection of interconnected urban horror stories taking you back to October 30th, 1987. Drawing inspiration from Michigan legends such as the Nain Rouge and the Hobo Pig Lady, Lawson weaves a rich and haunting tapestry of terror and tragedy. Inside these pages, you will find cursed vinyl records, inner-city druids, diabolical priests, and slim slivers of hope. Devil’s Night burns with Curtis M. Lawson’s signature brand of supernatural dread. This is smart psychological horror, ablaze with visceral imagery, with equal measures of heart and heartache.

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

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2021

About the author

Curtis M. Lawson is a writer of unapologetically weird, dark fiction, poetry, and comics. His work includes Black Heart Boys' Choir, It’s a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World, and The Devoured.
Curtis is a member of the Horror Writer’s Association and hosts the Wyrd Transmissions podcast.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detroit has been a source of income for me, almost all of my adult life. I work with cars every day and I've only owned American cars my whole life, (except for that one time when I bought a Renault, and WOW was that a mistake!) In this collection, Curtis Lawson treats us to different views of the Motor City, from many different walks of life. I found it odd that an author who resides in one of the most historic, (and some believe haunted), towns in Massachusetts, wanted to write about the haunting myths, and legends surrounding Detroit and Michigan, in general, but here we are! (Turns out Salem has nothing on Detroit, nothing at all.)

Many of these tales involved legends I've never heard of, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. Among my favorites were:

TRASH FIRE STORIES involves a group of kids telling tales by a trash can fire, while one of them spray paints his version of the Nain Rouge on a wall. Turns out Nain Rouge is a nasty little hobgoblin that shows up when something bad is about to happen.

D20 is a tale about two brothers trying to take their mind off the horror that is their daily life because their mom is an addict.

NO ONE LEAVES THE BUTCHER SHOP was my second favorite story in this collection. The Pig Lady is one hell of a butcher, or so I gathered.

THROUGH HELL FOR ONE KISS was my favorite tale. It captivated me and then it crushed me. Just...crushed me.

A NIGHT OF ART AND EXCESS. Who doesn't like a penthouse masquerade party?

THE WORK OF THE DEVIL. Here is a tale where everything is leaning one way, but then...it's not.

THE GRAVEYARD OF CHARLES ROBERT SWEDE. Every once in a great while, people get what's coming to them. Swede got his.

THIS CITY NEEDS JESUS. I generally love stories like this one, where I'm not quite sure who the REAL bad guy is. I know who the bad guy is supposed to be, but...is he really?

AN ANGEL IN AMBER LEAVES. A young woman goes from being a bartender to being a body, found by the caretaker.

THE EXORCISM OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN. Murder or exorcism? You decide!

I've been a fan of Curtis Lawson for many years now and each time I read something from him, I marvel at his skill. He has the ability to pick me up and then drop me off in the scariest of places, only to have me claw my way out and ask for more. Thank you, Mr. Lawson-may I have another?

Highly recommended!

Available from: Weirdhousepress.com

*The author provided an e-copy of this book, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally published in issue #66 of SCREAM Magazine
https://www.screamhorrormag.com/store/
...
Devil’s Night is a collection of short stories by Curtis M. Lawson taking place on the eve of Halloween in Detroit, Michigan known as “Devil’s Night”. Historically, Motor City would explode with chaos, violence, and lawlessness. It’s true! Lawson takes real, local urban legends such as The Hobo Pig Lady and Nain Rouge and builds them into compelling horror dramas. The edition that I read is accented with full-page, color illustrations from well-known horror artist, Luke Spooner. These visuals add a layer to the reading experience that is so unique and rare! I got a real sense of the nightmarish hellscape of mayhem burning out of control in the streets.
I wish more horror fiction had pictures.
The stories are rich with historical context and social commentary to accompany fictional horrors. Lawson is a masterful builder of suspense and tension. I especially enjoyed, NO ONE LEAVES THE BUTCHER SHOP. The accompanying artwork depicts a large, formless human body with an attached pig head. The creature is wielding a huge butcher’s knife.
“Who’s here? Louie asked. “Who did this?”
An angry squeal and a loud snort echoed in the darkness.
“The Pig Lady.”
This story creeped me out, big time!
I realize that not every reader gets excited about short stories but let me urge you that an author collection like this will make a believer out of you. DEVIL’S NIGHT is as entertaining as it gets.

[Duncan Ralston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawson does for Devil's Night what Carpenter did for Halloween. A terrific, imaginative collection of dark fiction. Creepy, unnerving and unapologetically original.

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for sending me this (beautiful) book in exchange for an honest review!

Well, wow. This . . . This book. Where to start? I guess I'll start by saying Devil's Night by Curtis M. Lawson is a collection of short stories all taking place on the same night in the same city: Devil's Night in Detroit, Michigan, 1987. For those not in the know (and who haven't seen 1994's The Crow), Devil's Night is the night before Halloween when the city of Detroit revolts. At least, this used to be the case. The people of the city would take to the streets to vandalize and destroy. While these violent acts have deescalated over the years, there was a time when the vandalism was very bad. And very dangerous.

Curtis M. Lawson takes us back in time to a city that was (quite literally) sick and dying. Each story follows a different cast of characters, all caught in the wrath of Devil's Night and its many demons. Are these demons urban legend . . . or reality?

Meticulously researched and expertly crafted, Devil's Night is a beautiful collection of stories from a writer who knows how to tell a story. In these pages, you will find stories that disturb, scare, and may even make you cry. One story in particular called "Through Hell for One Kiss" left me devastated and moved to tears. I had to read it twice. That is by far one of my new favorite short stories of all time. Seriously, it is beautiful. And the other stories? Fantastic. There wasn't one that didn't impact me in some way.

In the end, this collection is a love letter to a city even at its darkest. It is the story of an exorcism, of finding hope even at the center of hell. I loved it.

[Janelle Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come! LOVE THIS BOOK

[Jason Parent · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I had the pleasure o reading this one early and loved it, so I gave it the following blurb:

“In his latest collection, Lawson weaves together fourteen tales inspired by the infamous Detroit Devil’s Night and the legend of the Nain Rouge. Venturing back to October 30, 1987, you, the reader, will find yourself plunged into a city on fire and where not, decaying like a tooth from within. Whether venturing out or huddling under the covers, no one is safe from the darkness blighting the city. Lawson paints a stylish and horrific depiction of the conflicts his lost souls, and you with them, must endure in their hopes to make it through the evening. Some of their journeys will touch you, others will tickle you, but all will terrorize you to any modern horror fan’s wicked pleasure. Imaginative, artful, and ever-so-creepy, Devil’s Night will have you burning through its pages and keeping on the light.”

[Jeremy Hepler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Halloween, spooky season read. Great writing by Lawson and superb artwork by Luke Spooner as well. I'll be revisiting it every October from here on. Highly recommended!

[Tylor James · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Devil's Night" is a unique collection of horror stories, all of which align with the theme of Detroit history (particulary the infamous 'Devil's Night' of the 70's and 80's, wherein citizens participated in mass arsonry) and traditional Michigan folklore --- for example, that chilling devilish imp, the 'Nain Rouge'!

Lawson's visceral, sharp prose engaged me from page one all the way to the ending. "The Hobo Pig Lady", as other reviewers have mentioned, is utterly horrifying! But there are several stories in here which are memorable and engaging. Just a few excellent examples: "A Night of Art & Excess" and "Devil's Tongue". Another aspect about Devil's Night which I appreciate is that, despite it being a collection of stories, it still features a beginning, a middle, and a satisfying climax. This is something the reader feels intuitively due to the way the stories are arranged, which provides for a well-balanced reading.

One observation I'd like to end with: To create compelling new fiction out of old myth is to sustain a noble, storytelling tradition, and to do this exceedingly well is an honor for any writer, as it includes said writer into a lineage of imagination, which can stretch back centuries (or more) into the past.

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Curtis for arranging for a digital copy to head my way to review. Look at that cover!! ‘Devil’s Night’ is Curtis’ latest collection and is available as a signed/limited hardcover only, as of writing this review. Judging from the photos I’ve seen online and the gorgeous illustrations within, if you are a fan of Lawson’s work and love collecting stunning releases, this one is right up your alley.

This is my second experience reading Lawson’s work. I read his co-authored novella ‘Those Who Go Forth into the Empty Place of Gods’ which was actually a bit of a miss for me. But, in my brain, there was a germ of a story teller I wanted to explore more. I do have ‘Black Heart Boys’ Choir’ on my Kindle and after reading this, I’m going to need to get to that ASAP.

What I liked: ‘Devil’s Night’ is a collection exactly about that. Devil’s Night is a night of vandalism and arson that occurs on October 30th. Historically associated with Detroit, Michigan. Curtis decided (smartly, I might add) to take that idea and pair it with the legend of the Nain Rouge. The Nain Rouge is a red-dwarf like creature, often assumed to be or associated with the devil. Within, we get some truly stunning stories, and even an appearance by the famed Hobo Pig Lady of Michigan lore.

The fourteen stories opens with the fantastic ‘Trash-Fire Stories,’ which was also my favorite of the group. The story is centered around a teen boy who is doing street art in an industrial area when three kids from his school stumble upon him as he works. They share their own experiences with the Nain Rouge. This story was creepy-personified and the ended was spot on.

This laid some great ground-work for what was to come. The next story ‘D20’ was a great fantasy/horror blend between two brothers playing a board game while the real world howls at their window. This one was even a bit sweet in places.

Other stand outs for me were ‘No One Leaves the Butcher Shop,’ ‘Fire Sermon,’ ‘Rashaam the Unholy’ and ‘The Exorcism of Detroit, Michigan.’

You really can’t go wrong here as Curtis has crafted a collection that will become a classic release, especially for Halloween lovers as the years go by.

What I didn’t like: With any collection there is an ebb and flow with each story and a few of them suffered from the normal ‘I wish this story was a longer’ and ‘I wish this story was shorter’ thoughts that populate a readers brain. Overall, each story is rock solid, which made it easy to overlook those tendencies.

Why you should buy this: As I said in the opening, if you love Lawson’s work or love collecting gorgeous books, this is one you’ll need on your shelf. Coupled with the top notch story telling and the phenomenal imagery Curtis conjures in here, this one’s should be a must read for lovers of dark fiction and people who devour Halloween infused horror.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had zero clue that Detroit has such a sordid history. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought I was reading about New Orleans. Before this book, I really never knew much about Detroit, other than the car industry LOL. I'm not sure how much truth there is to these tall tales, but each tale has to start somewhere, right? Maybe the really do start in Detroit. BTW, I think I'll s
Avoid that area around Halloween lol

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars! Highest of recommendations! This is horror at its best. Loved every story.

[Kim Friant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curtis reached out to me and asked if I would review his book. The description intrigued me so of course I said yes. And boy, is it a great book! Devil’s Night is like The Purge in Detroit: one night a year, any and all crime happens, near suspension of all emergency services. It does indeed sound terrifying. This is an anthology of stories based on Lawson’s own research into Devil’s Night. He does a great job of weaving the paranormal in with the darkness of humanity. Urban legends, motorcycle gangs, serial killers, graffiti, role-player games, etc. I couldn’t put it down! I also had to text Ivan to ask him to take the trash down when he got home cuz I was too scared to go outside in the dark. I don’t want to say too much more about any of the stories because they’d be more effective going in and experiencing them without too much info. There are at least 2 people I know who need to read Devil’s Night and I absolutely recommend it to pretty much everyone. Great book!

[Nikolas Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil's Night is a collection focusing primarily on the myths and urban legends emerging from the darkness and the destructive tendencies of people during the Devil's Night eruptions of violence and arson in Detroit. It would be easy to write off Curtis M. Lawson's short story collection as an outlet for bleak and cynical tales of horror lurking below the surface of those actions, but it would only be telling a fraction of the story. There is a deep and abiding love for Detroit embedded within these tales. Lawson's is a love that doesn't cling with shallow superficiality to the glory days of the motor city or Motown but embraces the painful and often ugly reality that coincides with those things that once set Detroit apart from the rest of America.
In these pages, you'll certainly find stories of the Nain Rouge, The Pig Lady, and other urban legends that are specific to that region, but you'll also find the far more sinister forces at work, racism, predatory capitalism, and addiction. In Lawson's Devil's Night, you'll meet a city that has a nebulous mind and spirit of its own, one poisoned by generations of residents and the corruption they brought with them. You'll discover a Detroit where toxic, venomous plantlife flourishes beneath the surface, ready to flay alive any who stumble across it, poisoning those who survive with unquenchable hate and anger.
In Trash-Fire Stories and The Work of the Devil, we meet children who have experienced every tragedy life can throw at them, each event preceded by the appearance of the Nain Rouge, presaging the bad things soon to come.
In D20, we learn that two brothers attempting to escape the cruel reality of their lives through a role-playing game might be awakening a force to affect the real changes they so desperately need.
Devil's Tongue and The Exorcism of Detroit, Michigan both take us to a place where we catch glimpses of the underlying evil that poisons the city and turns the residents into the monsters they've become as Devil's Night arrives. The latter tale providing the reader with a certain sense of hope and faith that things can be better.
Through Hell for One Kiss shares a haunting love story that proves to be a quite literal haunting for those caught up in the annual remembrance of the ghosts involved.
A Night of Art and Excess showcases the awfulness and depravity of human nature and greed, without any supernatural scapegoat to assuage the guilt.
No One Leaves the Butcher Shop tells the story of a pair of arsonists who stumble across something far worse than homeless people encamped within the building they've been hired to burn.
The Graveyard of Charles Robert Swede takes us on a journey with a monstrous serial killer who learns--as the line between our world and another are blurred--the truth behind why he's chosen the burial site he's utilized for the disposal of his victims.
We discover that even the devil has standards and sometimes a more stringent moral code than the clergy in This City Needs Jesus.
There's more within this collection than solely the stories I've referenced, but these are the ones that stood out the most for me. Interspersed through the book are numerous illustrations that are positively magnificent. It was these illustrations that first brought this collection by Lawson to my attention, and as awesome as they might be, they're no more spectacular than the stories they reference.
I wish I had read this collection in the final days of October because this book is so perfect for reading at that time of year. If you have a chance to read this for the first time, I recommend doing so at that time. You will not regret the decision.

[Michael Cushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Novel is a collection of short stories that focus on the theme of Devil’s Night as it occurred in Detroit, Michigan, from the 1960s through to the 1990s. This was my 2nd time reading this Anthology as I had received an Advance Reader’s Copy of it back in February of this year.

The Novel is an Anthology of short stories that center around Devil’s Night (October 30th) in Detroit, Michigan and the time frame would be the 1980s. We take a look at the vandalism and arson that encompassed the city every year on this night. We also take a look at some of the urban legends from the area. Such as the Nain Rouge, a legendary creature, whose appearance is said to bring on misfortune.

This is a book that is heavy on the feels. There is a great deal of social commentary to be said about what life in Detroit really must have been like during this time period. From black children being gunned down by Police, to white children whose parents were dealing with severe addiction problems, to what the personal lives of Police Officers must have been who refused to move out of the city and head for safer grounds.

It’s crazy for me to read it again now in November of 2020 and to actually think of all of the crazy things that have happened since I last turned these pages. Needless to say, this is a book that will stick with you. It’s evoked the same powerful emotions in me that I experienced with my first reading. And I will most likely pick this up again sometime in the future.

[Austin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5⭐ rounded down.

This was a pretty good and consistent collection of stories all set in Detroit on Devil's Night. This isn't your run of the mill spooky anthology... these stories are DARK, and well written; almost with a more literary style than pure genre fiction.

I didn't bother to rate each individual story (I usually do with SS collections and anthologies) due to the nature of this book, and most stories being in the "good" range. However, if I had to pick a few favorites I think I would go with:
D20 (Cool concept)
No One Leaves The Butcher Shop (Scary)
Breaking Wheel (Sad/effectively emotional)
The Work of the Devil (Unsettling and disturbing)

But like I said, there were no bad stories in here and honestly, on reread my favorites could change. While I didn't fully love this book I do think it was very good and I recommend checking it out, especially if you're looking for thematic Halloween material but want something a bit darker!

[Chris from the Basement · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of good collections this year. Authors with some very distinctive voices, and tremendous talent.

Devil's Night and Curtis M. Lawson is the best of the bunch. The best of 2020. It really is a showcase of a writer who can do it all. I've read Curtis M. Lawson before and was struck that he wrote action scenes particularly well. That still holds up in the collection, but from story to story Curtis starts to show us everything he's capable of.

Add to that is the lore and backdrop of Detroit and "Devil's Night." Not only is this a collection of stories but it's complete tale. Curtis weaves in the history of Detroit from the MLK riots that almost burned the city down to the socioeconomic implications of a forgotten city. These stories are as sad as they are horrific, maybe as true as they are fiction...

Bravo, Curtis M. Lawson, bravo.

[Bookwyrm Speaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not usually a big horror fan, having grown up with fantasy and sci-fi as my go to genres. That being said, I do enjoy the occasional foray into the dark side, the side of the devils, demons and ghosts, especially when its written by one of my favorite authors. In this case, that author is Curtis M. Lawson, who is a very talented author of supernatural horror, and he has created an absolute gem with Devil’s Night.

Centered in a series of stories set in Detroit on October 30, Devil’s Night, it imagines a darker reason for the arson, looting and rioting that was a Detroit tradition for so many years on the night before Halloween. Reasons Like the Nain Rouge, and imp that destroys families over the course of years, and reasons like the Hobo Pig Lady, tied into the mysterious disappearance of children. We see serial killers and thugs get their comeuppance in some horrifying ways, and we also see some true monsters in human form be led to even more power. There might even be a story about the son of the devil, doing good work stopping some heinous evil, and we find out just what the true cause of the evil behind Devil’s Night is, and see the one person who can possibly bring it to an end.

I loved the variety of the stories. From straight horror to more dark urban fantasy, we get a glimpse into evil, and even into the good trying to offset it. The stories are so visceral, and you really just get sucked in. I spent a few late nights finishing this, realizing I was on to something special. This is easily the best horror anthology I’ve ever read, and I hope to see more of the Devil’s son in future novel length stories. I think he would make a great sort of anti-hero urban fantasy protagonist. Check out this book today!

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing of the tradition of Devil's Night or the folklore of the Nain Rouge or the Hobo Pig Lady, so I was instantly intrigued by the concept of this story. I was hooked by the end of the prologue Lawson wove to capture the mood of the book and knew I wouldn't go to sleep until I finished reading the whole book that night.

The stories were scary, original, and fit together seamlessly for this book. Some were full of heart (D20) and some were truly heartbreaking (Through Hell for One Kiss). Even when I thought I could guess the ending of the story, I was thrown for a loop. To have this many stories take place all over one city in one night, takes a masterful grasp of story telling, and Curtis Lawson has it.

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Curtis M. Lawson possesses quite the deft hand at delivering bizarro horror, and the talent to make such horror believable--an essential component of Horror, because how can one fear if one can't believe such horror can exist?


In these 14 themed stories, accompanied by stunning illustrations and an author introduction, the odd annual tradition of Devil's Night in the perpetually troubled and dismayed City of Detroit is examined in detail from various perspectives. Sometimes Horror targets the Innocent; sometimes Poetic Justice is served. No matter what, there's a plethora of frights and entertainment to be found in this collection, preferably not to be consumed late at night, especially not on the night before Halloween.

[SUSAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right off the bat I was enveloped by the author's descriptive prose - the first story entitled Trash Fire Stories immediately brought me back to the late 80s when street art was looked down upon and something to be done in the dark, scurrying around a city like rats... and overworking a piece of your art felt akin to suicide and betrayal.
It brought back memories of watching films like Streets of Fire and feeling that teenage bravado and courage and rebellion and fear. It seems like a lot of what we did then was to quash the fear. It launched me back to friendships rife with unapologetic racism and crude jokes, budding curiosity about the wider world... ahhh!
Just the first story alone gave me all the feels. I'll try to write a bit about each story so potential readers hopefully get hungry to devour this book.

D20 - Anyone who has ever played D&D will delight to this story. Through the harsh reality of despair in adolescence comes a fairy tale that leave some bloody and burned.

Devil's Tongue - For some, Devil's Night in Detroit means getting away with petty crime, but for some a chance at vengeance. But sometimes we find out the cost of anger in terrible ways.

No One Leaves the Butcher Shop - There's nothing quite like hearing about a local legend and this one is as gruesome as they come. I can still hear a child's voice repeating a terrible rhyme... CHOP!

Fire Sermon - I have to add that I appreciate the author's willingness to write about multicultural characters. That has always been my favorite part of living in big cities and yes, some characters in the stories are racists, but it brings back a certain bitter-flavored nostalgia for me.
This story especially made me laugh (but yes it's still terrifying!) because there were many times I would pass by a Baptist church in full swing in Brooklyn, NY on a Sunday and wish I could just join in the singing and celebration. But I might skip THIS particular church that takes fire and brimstone to a whole new level.

Through Hell for One Kiss - Some memories are heaven and some are hell, but this one is mostly about hellish ones.

Breaking Wheel - absolutely medieval

A Night of Art and Excess - High rooftops and low morals do this party make

The Work of the Devil - It's not just a saying!

Rashaam the Unholy - He is what he is, 'nuff said.

The Graveyard of Charles Robert Swede - a story of grim compulsion and quiet terror

This City Needs Jesus - This story is a great example of why I enjoy this anthology - not only is the setting completely different in each tale (even though all these stories take place during Devil's Night), but there is an attention to detail that brings you that extra bit of realism to nail down the horror or disgust or reality of a given situation. Did you know that the clavicle is one of the most often broken bones for children? I'm pretty sure the author does.
And Adze is just a great name for a character.

An Angel in Amber Leaves - Ahhh such a sweet story but with righteous gore. What more could I ask for?

The Exorcism of Detroit, Michigan - Another example of how the author can introduce you to other facets of Detroit culture and legend and leave you with an imprint of what happens when you truly commune with the city...

I had no idea what these stories would be like, the author provided me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for a review and this is only the second time I have done that. But every single story resonated with me in some way. But I honestly feel that people who enjoy horror and enjoy urban settings will really relish the vistas this book provides.

#anthology #devilsnight #locallore #thatshowiroll #thatsermonwasfire #bodyhorror #occulthorror #locallegends #cumulativeagony #allthefeels #urbanhorror

[April Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a local resident of the Detroit Area — and one who is old enough to remember the real-life horrors of Devil’s Night — I feel a bit mixed about this collection. It’s not that the stories aren’t good, it’s just that most of them really don’t seem to need (or use) Devil’s Night as a backdrop. That aside, most of the stories presented here are interesting. The best two, IMHO, are “The City Need[s] Jesus” and “The Exorcism of Detroit.”

One thing I didn’t like was the usage of the word “Injuns.” It’s generally regarded as an offensive term, but it was in the book twice. Aside from this, though, Devil’s Night is a solid collection of horror stories.

[Joshua MacMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid little collection! As with all, some stories stand out more than others, but all-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was my first from this author and I am looking forward to checking out a full-length novel or maybe a novella from him in the future!

[Maya J. Lujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooow. I'm also iffy on short story collections but this one... FIRE IT UP

[Mary-Ann Maronski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of interwoven stories, filled with the myth, legend and folklore of the city of Detroit. I love how all of the stories are set against the backdrop of the burning city on the Eve of Halloween. It included a lot of Detroit folklore that I was not even aware of prior to reading this book.

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

Review to come.

[Austrian Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first saw this book mentioned on Brad Proctor’s Youtube channel (though I vaguely remember gushing over the cover when it was released) with him flat out saying that it was shaping up to be one of his favorite collections of short stories of all time. Heady praise from such a prolific reader, so obviously, I bought my own copy.

The premise of the book is fantastic, all of the short stories are based in Detroit on October 30th in the eighties – the night before Halloween, called Devil’s Night, where Detroit went bat shit crazy between the 1960s and the 1990s and tried to set itself on fire. I kid you not. Detroit’s history is rife with paranormal devils and ghouls and all types of badness, and on Devil’s Night, every year, the people ran riot in the streets and become arsonists. This is fact, and it caused a civil response called Angel’s night in response, which more or less stopped Devil’s night in its tracks.

So – fantastic premise, and then it’s bolstered by the seriously stunning artwork from Luke Spooner (which you really have to see in color, I have both a Kindle and an iPad, and transferred over to the iPad to get to appreciate Spooner’s colorwork). Let’s just say that it adds a fantastic atmosphere to all of the pieces, and really was inspirational. Kudos to whoever dreamt up the combination, it worked. I’m impressed. I included a piece of the artwork below to illustrate the point, but it is also Spooner’s work on the glorious cover.

Luke, you have a fan.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The opener – Trash fire stories, was, for me, one of the strongest stories in the book. It played out the history of Devil’s night and gave context to all of the stories that followed. It had multiple stories within stories and a creeping sense of dread and rot, and you got to know the characters even though they were confined to just a short story. It was a slam dunk opener, and exactly where it should have been. It was then followed by Luke’s outstanding artwork for the next story, D20, shown below, which was a more humorous piece, and which illustrated Curtis’ craft, his ability to change voices at the drop of a hat, and the story itself was great, the concept strong. I’m not going to break down what D20 was about, I am rather showing that the transition between the stories, with the artwork, and different voice, pacing, and mood, worked flawlessly. Not an easy thing to do, but this worked like a well-oiled machine.

There are short shorts here – Fire sermon was great, had some wonderful lines in it that worked like slaps around the face, and the length was perfect. In contrast, the creeping horror of No one leaves the butchers shop built the mood and fear over time, the build-up to the horror that awaited our arsonist protagonists was tangible, you could almost smell the fire as it devoured the house, the monster it contained within not the least disturbed by the change to her environment.

Though I thought all of the stories were well done and self-contained, it was the overall arcing theme that brought the book together. An angel in amber leaves was straight-up great writing. The closing short – The exorcism of Detroit, Michigan – was my second favorite piece, the voice wonderful, the story perfectly told. I was rushing to the end on that one.

Not every story had the same impact, but the range here was fantastic, from stories on a boat in a river to a ghost haunting a house, from a druid fighting a parasite to a serial killer wearing a pigs head – all of it combined with the artwork propel this collection to giddier heights, and it is staggering to consider that the same person wrote all of the stories – it feels more like a really well put together anthology rather than a showcase of the diversity of genius that is Curtis M.Lawson.

You knocked it out of the park, Curtis. I’ll be back to read more from you and expect equally great things.

5 out of 5⭐ ‘s. A fantastic showcase of Curtis’ and Luke’s work.

[Daniel Mowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawson's book is a fictional horrorscape of the terrifying yearly tradition of Devil's Night in Detroit, Michigan. This is the first I've ever heard of any urban legends or folklore of Detroit, such as the Nain Rouge and the Hobo Pig Lady. As terrifying as these ghouls are, nothing shook me as much as learning of the existence of Devil's Night, the night before Halloween where the city burns, and is overrun with arson, vandalism, crime, and a city indulging in revolt, violence, and rage. Though the severity of these nights has greatly decreased over the years, Lawson uses this as the turbulent setting for a series of inter-connected short stories from fourteen unique and well-written perspectives over the course of a single Devil's Night in 1987. Some of the monsters are demiurges and undead, some are spiritual forces, and some are deeply and disturbingly human. There is not a single story that won't twist your stomach with either shock, or fear, or sometimes even heartbreak and hope.

With visceral and beautiful prose, a deep understanding of characters and their distinct backgrounds and perspectives, well-researched history and mythology, and some downright sharp and dark imagination, Lawson delivers a spell-binding narrative that will have you closing the curtains and locking the doors by sundown. Personal favorites in this collection were "Through Hell for One Kiss," "A Night of Art and Excess," "Rashaam the Unholy," and "The Graveyard of Charles Robert Swede." These specifically, regardless of their length, were taut narratives of depravity, heart, and humanity or shocking lack thereof with poignant and memorable voices that stuck with me longer after putting the book down.

[Mona Kabbani · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My father told me that back in Iraq the anger and the hate seeped into everything. He used to say it was something in the soil - something that infected the wisest man down to the lowliest vermin. He came here to escape all that, but I think this city is the same.”

Welcome to Devil’s Night in the Hell that is Detroit, Michigan. An anthology of urban horror stories that will rot you to your core. This book is vivid. It’s beautifully put together, tediously taken care of in design, and horrifyingly chaotic. This is one of those books I will be keeping on my shelf because the presentation is just so hellishly impressive and because it’ll feel like I have a piece of Motor City eternally burning within the pages on my bookshelf.

As I said, this book is vivid. Horrific. Gory. My one personal negative is that the gore has no rhyme nor reason besides giving you nightmares but that was clearly the intention. To scare this hell out of you. So it’s not really a negative at all. What I like is that the stories all intertwine, not in a codependent manner but in a way that encapsulates you in the realm of Detroit on this day, referencing characters and events from other stories in the new to make it all truly one universe of destruction.

My top three:
D20
A Night of Art and Excess
The Work of the Devil

I’d also like to note that if you do decide to pick up this book, beware that there are sensitive topics regarding domestic and sexual violence that may be triggering for some.

[Jim Andrew Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few dark horror short story collections this year that were really good, and Devil's Night is right up there with the best of them. Probably in the top three best short story collections I've read in the past couple years.

Devil's Night is a real thing. It's the night before Halloween when people in Detroit commit acts of vandalism, arson and violence. Every story in this book takes place during Devil's Night (or before, or after) and a few of them even tie together. And the best thing is that all the stories are damn good.

My favorite stories are:

D20 - A couple of kids play D&D which has real life consequences. I would read a whole book with this premise, it's so great.

This City Needs Jesus - Adze, who is supposedly the son of the devil or a demon of sorts, is a hired assassin for the Church. I really want to see more stories featuring this character, or perhaps a novel.

Those two were my favorites, but again, they're all good. The book is incredibly well-written and it's a lot of fun to read. I bought the signed, limited hardcover which has some awesome full-color illustrations throughout, and it's a beautiful book.

If you like dark, gritty horror stories, you'll dig this. Highly recommended.

[Books For Decaying Millennials · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes From a Decaying Millennial:
I purchased this book from the author last fall, it was one of the books I read during month of October, leading up to Samhain. Mister Lawson was gracious enough to autograph it.

This is NOT a paid review :

Devil's Night by Curtis M. Lawson is an anthology of tales surrounding "Devil's Night" a local term for October 30th, in Detroit, Michigan. It's a night infamous and local history. Just as infamous in local folklore is the figure known as "Nain Rouge". Sometimes authors struggle with presenting events from regional history and folklore and weaving them into a story that will grab audiences not from their locale. Lawson does not struggle with this.

While the combined narrative is slow at first to capture the reader, once you are hooked by the Nain Rouge's claw, you're stuck until that last turn of the page. The stories in the anthology follow different individuals, each impacted in a different way by devil's Night. Currents of brutality, sadness, fear and evil prevail throughout the book. This anthology was a great edition to my stack of pre-Samhain reads last October. Whether you are a seasonal reader of horror fiction, or a year round fan. Devil's Night is an excellent edition to your horror library.