Deep Snow

by Justin Montgomery

During a blizzard, snowplow driver Richie Mendez discovers that something ghastly lurks in the woods of his small Missouri town.

Genres: Novella

14 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2021

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of eBook

In rural Heaven’s Grace, Missouri, Richie drives the solitary snowplow. It’s a cold and lonely job, made bearable with HotHands, insulated gloves, some classic rock pouring out of the radio, and a bit [or more] of Bailey’s Irish Cream tipped into his coffee. He sees himself as essential to the well-being of the town since no one could get out unless he plows the roads.

But when Richie discovers a pool of blood staining the snow and goes to investigate, he finds himself facing something rather indescribable. And then, later, out in the yard, he hears the sound of something dragging through the snow . . . .

This short story, with its strong sense of place, draws the reader into the telling of the tale; Richie’s dilemma keeps the pages turning, and the ever-building tension leads to an unexpected denouement. It’s a perfect addition to the horror genre.

Highly recommended.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a chilling and seriously creepy short story. It had such scary vibes that I wanted it to keep going. I think it would’ve been nice to have a prologue with the history or origin of the monster as well.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Danger of Good Intentions

A nicely nuanced short story with a great creep factor. The development of the main character is well done and the atmosphere, though confined to small spaces, is easy to visualize and helps carry the suspense of the action. I’m really impressed with how this is basically just a good old-fashioned scary story that should delight horror lovers!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, biting read

Picked this short story up from a recommendation on Twitter. I got it for free as part of a sale, but it’s some nice horror and I wouldn’t have minded paying for it. Happy to pass along the recommendation to others who could use a quiet evening, a cup of hot cocoa, and a monster.

[Sarah Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting and I loved it. Richie won my heart, especially with his music tastes and personality. It's a chilling story and it works well to get under your skin. It's like a Twilight zone or Outer Limits episode and yet has a brand new plot.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is an enjoyable one. It's about a man who's in charge of plowing the main streets of a small town. One night while working he comes across something in the DEEP SNOW.

That's all I want to share to avoid spoilers but this was such a fun story. I like the simple plot and setup--very digestible and doesn't drag. There were intense, suspenseful moments that made me think "what would I do in this situation".

If you like little bites of horror that is satisfying then you should try this one out. This story sort of reminded me of a mix of the movies THE THING and a short from CREEPSHOW.

CW: bloody moments, alcoholism

4.5/5

[Rachel M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, quick read especially for the festive season.

[Dexter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter is often my favorite seasonal setting for horror, so I was already on board from the opening. Creature features can be tricky though, as all horror readers have seen more than our fair share of cookie cutter monsters-of-the-week. Justin Montgomery delivers something I haven't seen before, and he does such an amazing job creating dread and unease with what little we see of it. His treatment reminds me of many black and white films where the monster is almost scarier because you only catch a glimpse of it. While I haven't seen this particular monster before, it feels somehow lived in, as if it draws from an older mythology or folktale we should have learned to be afraid of as children. I highly recommend.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep Red Snow

I am a sucker for any story set in the snow. I especially love short horror stories so this story was a no brainer for me. Justin Montgomery is a new author to me. I am so glad I picked this story up! It is so creepy. I know that it will come to mind when I am driving in the snow...

[A Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow darn good writing!

I thoroughly enjoyed this short. Next time a more complex ending to satisfy reader. But very good nonetheless. Will read you again!

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great horror story with nicely building tension. The ending is a bit ambiguous, but still, a really good, creepy read.

[Josh Buyarski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

As someone growing up in the UP of Michigan, crazy things happening on snowy nights are always a fear! Super interesting.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this exciting shirt story! A good introduction to this writer, I hope! Good idea & quite fast paced adventure! A good short escape!

[DNF and TBR Pro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. The story was somewhat predictable, but still enjoyable. The writing style was engaging and I'll be looking for more by the author.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary

A quick story that’ll make you think twice about going out on snowy nights, or helping whoever might be out there in the deep snow. Genuinely gave me the creeps, so I loved it.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Loved Richie! His values AND his festive plow lights! Masterfully executed on so many levels, and pretty damn sinister too

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story

[Emily Lorié]

A fun, quick winter read. 🩸❄️✨

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

A short & sweet creature story with an interesting lead character I felt was realistic and I enjoyed this story thoroughly! Only takes about 20 minutes to get through, if that, so I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a quick snowy horror.

[Terry and dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, cold, blast of horror. Great setting and good character development in a short amount of time. Creepy.

[Catherine McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Snow delivers on all counts. As a short story, I read it in one one sitting. What Montgomery delivers here are all the ingredients required to please the reader: great atmosphere, strong characterization, tension, a moral dilemma, and all of it immaculately presented. What more could you wish for?

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cold weather horror, and this is a solid one! I don't want to give too much away, as this is a short story, but I highly recommend it. Creepy as hell, with a truly unsettling monster for our protagonist to face.

[Matthew McGhie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool read; I enjoyed the heck out of it. Need more!

[Scott Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting new voice in horror

This story really did it for me. I dug the monster, it kept me hooked, snd Justin’s prose was exquisite. I’m excited for more from Justin Montgomery.

[Dr.Gorewhore · Rating 4 out of 5]

In just 14 quick pages this book had me peering out the window not wanting to walk my dogs. I loved it, the only reason I docked 1 star was because I wish there had been an extra 1-2 pages explaining further.

[Sheri White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but extremely creepy and tense.

A snow plow driver has a horrific time during a blizzard when he realizes there is something lurking in the snow.

Quick read, and lots of fun.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

As,I read this book I was thinking It was so familiar…..no wonder. I read it a year ago. If someone calls to you from the woods on a dark stormy night begging for help you’d best be careful.