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The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors
Winner of the Shirley Jackson Award
The horror is closer than you think. From Bram Stoker Award-winning editor Doug Murano and today's biggest names in dark fiction comes a new vision of terror. It's lurking under the surface. It's waiting around every corner. It's hiding under your bed. it's buried in the backyard. It's whispered, implied, unspoken. This is The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors.
“A mesmerizing cornucopia of beguiling chills and thrills, editor Doug Murano’s The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors showcases the finest talents in horror fiction writing at the top of their game—a truly unforgettable anthology.” ~ Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke
"This first volume in award-winning Horror editor Murano’s new independent imprint may claim to be hiding its terrors, but in reality, the horrors are on full, nightmarish display, and satisfied readers will eagerly seek out more titles by the authors included here." ~ Library Journal starred review
Foreword: Josh Ruben
The Pelt: Annie Neugebauer
Wish Wash: Sarah Read
When I Catch You: Hailey Piper
What’s Missing?: Zoje Stage
Still Life with Bones: Andy Davidson
The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real: John F.D. Taff
Mooncake: Lee Murray
Dungeon Punchinello: Josh Malerman
Below the Wildflower Hill: Sara Tantlinger
Don’t Open the Cellar Door: Jo Kaplan
Roses in the Attic: Cynthia Pelayo
Peripheral Vision: Richard Thomas
Haunted Inside: Gabino Iglesias
Counting Tunnels to Berry: Alan Baxter
Annie’s Heart is a Haunted House: Todd Keisling
They Are Still Out There, You Just Can’t See Them Anymore: Jonathan Lees
The horror is closer than you think. From Bram Stoker Award-winning editor Doug Murano and today's biggest names in dark fiction comes a new vision of terror. It's lurking under the surface. It's waiting around every corner. It's hiding under your bed. it's buried in the backyard. It's whispered, implied, unspoken. This is The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors.
“A mesmerizing cornucopia of beguiling chills and thrills, editor Doug Murano’s The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors showcases the finest talents in horror fiction writing at the top of their game—a truly unforgettable anthology.” ~ Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke
"This first volume in award-winning Horror editor Murano’s new independent imprint may claim to be hiding its terrors, but in reality, the horrors are on full, nightmarish display, and satisfied readers will eagerly seek out more titles by the authors included here." ~ Library Journal starred review
Foreword: Josh Ruben
The Pelt: Annie Neugebauer
Wish Wash: Sarah Read
When I Catch You: Hailey Piper
What’s Missing?: Zoje Stage
Still Life with Bones: Andy Davidson
The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real: John F.D. Taff
Mooncake: Lee Murray
Dungeon Punchinello: Josh Malerman
Below the Wildflower Hill: Sara Tantlinger
Don’t Open the Cellar Door: Jo Kaplan
Roses in the Attic: Cynthia Pelayo
Peripheral Vision: Richard Thomas
Haunted Inside: Gabino Iglesias
Counting Tunnels to Berry: Alan Baxter
Annie’s Heart is a Haunted House: Todd Keisling
They Are Still Out There, You Just Can’t See Them Anymore: Jonathan Lees
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2022
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660 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 30, 2022
Star review in the June 2022 issue of Library Journal and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/05...
Three Words That Describe This Book: themed anthology, original stories, range of scares
Draft Review:
A themed anthology only works if the authors take their prompt seriously, and here, readers are treated to 16 original and unsettling stories where the authors not only embrace the idea of “hiding” something awful in each story, but they have made the hunt to uncover every layer of discomfort and darkness fun as well. Featuring a wide range of scares from mere unease and paranoia to monsters and gore, and well known authors such as Malerman, Stage, and Iglesias, readers will get sucked in quickly. However, the very best stories in this stellar anthology are from the writers your patrons may be less familiar with, such as Lee Murry’s tale of a young woman faced with the mess left behind by her hoarding grandmother, as she uncovers an awful truth about her family and herself, while Todd Keisling will keep readers up at night, worried about every unkind thing they did in high school. But it is Sarah Read’s story, the second in the book, that will smack readers in the face, and make them realize this is an anthology worth their undivided attention.
Verdict: This first volume in award-winning Horror editor Murano’s new independent imprint may claim to be hiding its terrors, but in reality, the horrors are on full, nightmarish display, and satisfied readers will eagerly seek out more titles by the authors included here.
Notes:
16 original stories and they are all good but some are GREAT. Not surprised because the TOC is stacked.
Annie Neugebauer, Sarah Read, Hailey Piper, Zoje Stage, Andy Davidson, John F.D. Taff, Lee Murray
Josh Malerman, Sara Tantlinger, Jo Kaplan, Cynthia Pelayo, Richard Thomas, Gabino Iglesias, Alan Baxter, Todd Keisling, Jonathan Lees
In some themed anthologies not every single author follows the prompt well, but here every single story did. The idea that the horrors are hidden was explored and revealed really well, and in totally different ways. And the best stories had layers of hiding that are uncovered.
Example and some of my favorites-- Lee Murray's Mooncakes begins with what seems like an obvious or literal take-- the young woman is clearing out the contents of her grandmother's apartment. She was a hoarder so there are many horrors to uncover, until she find the most terrifying one. And it also uncovers something horrible in her. Great ending.
Or Alan Baxter's Counting Tunnels to Berry. A man and his son go on a short train ride but the last tunnel-- well it is not ending. It is suggested that they cannot get out until they figure out whose dark secret is keeping them in the dark. And once they know, how can they fix it?
The Pelt by Annie Neugebauer opens the volume and it will wake readers up and make them pay attention.
While Gabino Iglesias's Haunted Inside is a cool spin on the "selling your soul" trope and Annie’s Heart is a Haunted House by Todd Keisling will will keep readers up at night, worried about every unkind thing they did in high school.
But it is Sarah Read’s story, Wish Wash, the second in the book, that will smack readers in the face.
Three Words That Describe This Book: themed anthology, original stories, range of scares
Draft Review:
A themed anthology only works if the authors take their prompt seriously, and here, readers are treated to 16 original and unsettling stories where the authors not only embrace the idea of “hiding” something awful in each story, but they have made the hunt to uncover every layer of discomfort and darkness fun as well. Featuring a wide range of scares from mere unease and paranoia to monsters and gore, and well known authors such as Malerman, Stage, and Iglesias, readers will get sucked in quickly. However, the very best stories in this stellar anthology are from the writers your patrons may be less familiar with, such as Lee Murry’s tale of a young woman faced with the mess left behind by her hoarding grandmother, as she uncovers an awful truth about her family and herself, while Todd Keisling will keep readers up at night, worried about every unkind thing they did in high school. But it is Sarah Read’s story, the second in the book, that will smack readers in the face, and make them realize this is an anthology worth their undivided attention.
Verdict: This first volume in award-winning Horror editor Murano’s new independent imprint may claim to be hiding its terrors, but in reality, the horrors are on full, nightmarish display, and satisfied readers will eagerly seek out more titles by the authors included here.
Notes:
16 original stories and they are all good but some are GREAT. Not surprised because the TOC is stacked.
Annie Neugebauer, Sarah Read, Hailey Piper, Zoje Stage, Andy Davidson, John F.D. Taff, Lee Murray
Josh Malerman, Sara Tantlinger, Jo Kaplan, Cynthia Pelayo, Richard Thomas, Gabino Iglesias, Alan Baxter, Todd Keisling, Jonathan Lees
In some themed anthologies not every single author follows the prompt well, but here every single story did. The idea that the horrors are hidden was explored and revealed really well, and in totally different ways. And the best stories had layers of hiding that are uncovered.
Example and some of my favorites-- Lee Murray's Mooncakes begins with what seems like an obvious or literal take-- the young woman is clearing out the contents of her grandmother's apartment. She was a hoarder so there are many horrors to uncover, until she find the most terrifying one. And it also uncovers something horrible in her. Great ending.
Or Alan Baxter's Counting Tunnels to Berry. A man and his son go on a short train ride but the last tunnel-- well it is not ending. It is suggested that they cannot get out until they figure out whose dark secret is keeping them in the dark. And once they know, how can they fix it?
The Pelt by Annie Neugebauer opens the volume and it will wake readers up and make them pay attention.
While Gabino Iglesias's Haunted Inside is a cool spin on the "selling your soul" trope and Annie’s Heart is a Haunted House by Todd Keisling will will keep readers up at night, worried about every unkind thing they did in high school.
But it is Sarah Read’s story, Wish Wash, the second in the book, that will smack readers in the face.
July 24, 2022
The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors, released by Bad Hand Books and edited by Stoker Award-winning editor Doug Murano, is a solid collection of very diverse voices and styles. It is rare, as a reader, that I run across a book where more than half of the stories truly resonate for me… this book is one such. It has ups and downs, like any anthology, but what is up, and what is down will naturally vary from reader to reader. Quick notes on the stories below, but the standouts for me are Cynthia Pelayo’s “Roses in the Dark,” Zoe Stage’s “What’s Missing,” “Still Life with Bones,” by Andy Davidson, “The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real,” by John F. D. Taft, Hailey Piper’s “When I Catch You,” “Peripheral Vision,” by Richard Thomas, “Dungeon Punchinello,” by Josh Malerman and my personal favorite from this collection – Jonathan Lees’ “They are Still Out There, You Just Can’t See Them Anymore.” All of the stories are well-written, and the variety feels just right.
“The Pelt,” by Annie Neugebauer – The appearance of a mysterious object drives a wedge between a husband and wife. Growing madness and creeping dread.
“Wish Wash,” by Sarah Read – Sort a combination of folklore and bad deals with worse things. Bad decision horror with a twist.
“When I Catch You,” by Hailey Piper – Relationships are hard. Broken relationships can be dark. Ghosts, hauntings, stalking. And that’s just the start…
“What’s Missing?,” by Zoje Stage – I guarantee that anyone caught in a rut will be left with… thoughts. Very cool story.
“Still Life with Bones,” by Andy Davidson – This is another quietly disturbing story. As in Zoje Strange’s piece in the same book… it leaves you thinking about the past & future and… things.
“The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real,” by John F.D. Taff – Elder Gods and telephones. Another concept that left me with images to ponder. Well done.
“Mooncake,” by Lee Murray – Ghosts… memories… and greedy friends. Very creepy story.
“Dungeon Punchinello,” by Josh Malerman – This story reminds me of why after watching Hostel, foreign travel lost some of its appeal. And I love puns.
“Below the Wildflower Hill: Sara Tantlinger – The lone poem in the volume, this is very creepy, but flows beautifully.
Don’t Open the Cellar Door: Jo Kaplan – Great message at the end of this… sad mom/daughter relationship. And the world has a shitload of history…
Roses in the Attic,” by Cynthia Pelayo – This is such a good story. Subtle nods to so many things, a bittersweet backdrop, books, fairy tales, family… and so dark.
“Peripheral Vision,” by Richard Thomas – very creepy story involving phobias, and catch-and-release bugs. A hint of the Lovecraftian. Good stuff.
“Haunted Inside,” by Gabino Iglesias – A Tricky story that starts out as if it will be one thing and then… it’s another.
“Counting Tunnels to Berry,” by Alan Baxter – This felt like it could be an episode of The Twilight Zone. Could almost hear Rod Serling’s explanations…
“Annie’s Heart is a Haunted House,” by Todd Keisling – It’s never a good idea to forget the sins of your past, or those you’ve hurt (even when you were young). Ghosts and more.
“They Are Still Out There, You Just Can’t See Them Anymore,” by Jonathan Lees – This is a multi-level story, hinting at many sorts of darkness. Creepy in the way that leaves hairs standing on end. Very well done.
“The Pelt,” by Annie Neugebauer – The appearance of a mysterious object drives a wedge between a husband and wife. Growing madness and creeping dread.
“Wish Wash,” by Sarah Read – Sort a combination of folklore and bad deals with worse things. Bad decision horror with a twist.
“When I Catch You,” by Hailey Piper – Relationships are hard. Broken relationships can be dark. Ghosts, hauntings, stalking. And that’s just the start…
“What’s Missing?,” by Zoje Stage – I guarantee that anyone caught in a rut will be left with… thoughts. Very cool story.
“Still Life with Bones,” by Andy Davidson – This is another quietly disturbing story. As in Zoje Strange’s piece in the same book… it leaves you thinking about the past & future and… things.
“The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real,” by John F.D. Taff – Elder Gods and telephones. Another concept that left me with images to ponder. Well done.
“Mooncake,” by Lee Murray – Ghosts… memories… and greedy friends. Very creepy story.
“Dungeon Punchinello,” by Josh Malerman – This story reminds me of why after watching Hostel, foreign travel lost some of its appeal. And I love puns.
“Below the Wildflower Hill: Sara Tantlinger – The lone poem in the volume, this is very creepy, but flows beautifully.
Don’t Open the Cellar Door: Jo Kaplan – Great message at the end of this… sad mom/daughter relationship. And the world has a shitload of history…
Roses in the Attic,” by Cynthia Pelayo – This is such a good story. Subtle nods to so many things, a bittersweet backdrop, books, fairy tales, family… and so dark.
“Peripheral Vision,” by Richard Thomas – very creepy story involving phobias, and catch-and-release bugs. A hint of the Lovecraftian. Good stuff.
“Haunted Inside,” by Gabino Iglesias – A Tricky story that starts out as if it will be one thing and then… it’s another.
“Counting Tunnels to Berry,” by Alan Baxter – This felt like it could be an episode of The Twilight Zone. Could almost hear Rod Serling’s explanations…
“Annie’s Heart is a Haunted House,” by Todd Keisling – It’s never a good idea to forget the sins of your past, or those you’ve hurt (even when you were young). Ghosts and more.
“They Are Still Out There, You Just Can’t See Them Anymore,” by Jonathan Lees – This is a multi-level story, hinting at many sorts of darkness. Creepy in the way that leaves hairs standing on end. Very well done.
July 24, 2022
When I saw the list of authors who contributed to this collection, I had to read it. I was not disappointed - every single story is strong, with several standouts. If you like short horror stories, this is a must read.
March 17, 2023
This disturbing tome of tantalizing dark and delicious short stories is packed to the gills with killer stories. Literally and figuratively. I flew through this book because these stories were so consuming. Each one a different decadent and dark delight. It was like trying different varieties of chocolate, only instead of chocolate it's horror at its finest.
There are so many amazing authors attached to this book as well. Josh Malerman, Gabino Iglesias, Hailey Piper, Andy Davidson, Cynthia Pelayo, and so many more awesome authors. If you are looking for a fan-flipping-tastic book of short story horror definitely give this one a go. It is superb!
There are so many amazing authors attached to this book as well. Josh Malerman, Gabino Iglesias, Hailey Piper, Andy Davidson, Cynthia Pelayo, and so many more awesome authors. If you are looking for a fan-flipping-tastic book of short story horror definitely give this one a go. It is superb!
July 30, 2022
From award-winning editor Doug Murano comes the debut anthology from Bad Hand Books. Needless to say, within the horror genre, this book had some hype behind it. With hype comes expectations. So does The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors live up to them? In a word, yes.
Murano has compiled a solid lineup of some of the biggest names in horror. As much as I love discovering new voices, sometimes you just want an all-star lineup that you know is going to shine before you even turn the first page. Every writer brings their A game, and although some stories demand the spotlight, there really aren't any that detract from the quality.
A few examples:
"Wish Wash" by Sarah Read is the second story in the book and was probably my favorite. The plot which mixes mythology, bullying, and wishes is one that kept me thinking after the story ended. Read masterfully infuses paranoia into these pages.
"Dungeon Punchinello" by Josh Malerman taps into a Hostel-type mentality. Malerman keeps the reader on unsure footing, planting ideas but never confirming or denying. This story also contains a death that made feel queasy. Not an easy feat for a regular horror reader.
"Counting Tunnels to Berry" by Alan Baxter feels tailor-made for an episode of the Twilight Zone, perfectly putting on display a small cast with a whodunnit twist.
Other notable stories come from John F.D. Taff, Hailey Piper, Lee Murray, Cynthia Pelayo, and Todd Keisling.
If this is the marker of quality we can expect from this publisher, Bad Hand Books has set itself up as as a press to watch.
Murano has compiled a solid lineup of some of the biggest names in horror. As much as I love discovering new voices, sometimes you just want an all-star lineup that you know is going to shine before you even turn the first page. Every writer brings their A game, and although some stories demand the spotlight, there really aren't any that detract from the quality.
A few examples:
"Wish Wash" by Sarah Read is the second story in the book and was probably my favorite. The plot which mixes mythology, bullying, and wishes is one that kept me thinking after the story ended. Read masterfully infuses paranoia into these pages.
"Dungeon Punchinello" by Josh Malerman taps into a Hostel-type mentality. Malerman keeps the reader on unsure footing, planting ideas but never confirming or denying. This story also contains a death that made feel queasy. Not an easy feat for a regular horror reader.
"Counting Tunnels to Berry" by Alan Baxter feels tailor-made for an episode of the Twilight Zone, perfectly putting on display a small cast with a whodunnit twist.
Other notable stories come from John F.D. Taff, Hailey Piper, Lee Murray, Cynthia Pelayo, and Todd Keisling.
If this is the marker of quality we can expect from this publisher, Bad Hand Books has set itself up as as a press to watch.
August 6, 2022
This recent anthology is one of the absolute best ones I've read in awhile. In some way or another, there's something "hidden" within each of the tales. Several of them, especially in the earlier ones, felt like Twilight Zone episodes, with the kind of unique plot twist towards the end made famous by that show. Zoje Stage's "What's Missing?" felt like it could have been written by Ray Bradbury as one of his horrors hidden among the Americana stories. My tops faves were Josh Malerman, Gabino Iglesias and Alan Baxter's, but there were really only two that I didn't care for, and would say the majority of them were terrific reads.
April 4, 2025
This is filled with great work.
Bad Hand is a great press to watch.
Bad Hand is a great press to watch.
November 20, 2022
More good stories than not-so-good
In anthologies, there are always going to be stories you love, ones you don’t like at all, and then those in between. This grouping has only a couple that I didn’t like, and the rest were quite entertaining, with several that I truly enjoyed, so I think that warrants 4 stars. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for some quick reads (even though I wouldn’t really classify a lot of these stories as “horror”).
In anthologies, there are always going to be stories you love, ones you don’t like at all, and then those in between. This grouping has only a couple that I didn’t like, and the rest were quite entertaining, with several that I truly enjoyed, so I think that warrants 4 stars. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for some quick reads (even though I wouldn’t really classify a lot of these stories as “horror”).
May 16, 2023
Bad Hand is putting out some of the best stuff in the business right now. I have every book published by this house, and everything upcoming on preorder. The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors was the only book I didn't have, surprisingly, so I bought it. This collection talks about horror in unexpected places: in the comfort of your own home, in dreams, in nature. There are a plethora of wonderful stories in here. My personal favorites are "Dungeon Punchinello" and "The Things We Did, We Did, Were All For Real." This is not at the expense of the other stories, but these personally appealed to me the most. If you like horror and want to jump on the bandwagon of praise that Bad Hand undoubtedly deserves, give this a read!
August 10, 2022
Unsettling stories..
I'm not sure how I feel about some of these tales. I confess there were a couple I just couldn't really catch the cadence of the story, and what little I did, left me feeling a certain kind of way... While other ones were thought provoking in a self effacing way that left me , different from who I was before my reading. This isn't your typical collection of horror...
I'm not sure how I feel about some of these tales. I confess there were a couple I just couldn't really catch the cadence of the story, and what little I did, left me feeling a certain kind of way... While other ones were thought provoking in a self effacing way that left me , different from who I was before my reading. This isn't your typical collection of horror...
August 19, 2022
Entertaining anthology of literary horror that's also thought provoking. I'll admit, some of the stories left me scratching my head, but overall, a good read.
June 12, 2023
A great, varied collection that features its share of nightmares and gore. Two favorites were Don't Open the Cellar Door by Jo Kaplan and Annie's Heart is a Haunted House by Todd Keisling. Josh Malerman's story kills, of course. Well worth seeking this one out.
January 26, 2023
Very interesting takes on some classic monster stories. Some don't work well, but others are really good.
December 20, 2023
This was an above-average horror anthology, with almost all the stories 3 or 4 stars, occasionally rising to 5 stars.
The Pelt - A couple finds a strange animal pelt hanging on their fence, leading to an ending that might be either a supernatural horror story or a woman losing her mind.
Wish Wash - One of those fairy tale wish stories with a horror twist.
When I Catch You - A haunted house/stalker story, where a woman is literally haunted by her ex.
What's Missing? - This was one of the weirder stories, with a "perfect" couple deciding something is missing from their lives, and they end up adding more excitement than they bargained for.
Still Life With Bones - Very short story that felt like a 90s teen grunge tale, a bunch of losers getting together years later to talk about all their classmates who are in prison or murdered.
The Things We Did, We Did, Were All For Real - One of the more interesting stories, about a writer who finds a phone booth in the middle of the desert. A tinge of cosmic horror.
Mooncake - A dutiful daughter tries to clean out her hoarder mother's apartment. A bit of a modern urban fairy tale twist.
Dungeon Punchinello - by Josh Malerman, author of Birdbox. One of my favorite stories in the collection, a very grim story about four college friends kidnapped by a madman during a European vacation, and those who escaped.
Below the Wildflower Hill - The obligatory poem. I don't know why every anthology needs one.
Don't Open the Cellar Door - A basic but effective tale where, like many horror stories, the horror is a metaphor (in this case not very metaphorical) for a real-life horror (in this case, the old abusive stepdad).
Roses in the Attic - A Rapunzel twist on the evil stepmother fairy tale.
Peripheral Vision - This story tried a little too hard to be a literary and evocative piece of cosmic horror, but the ending made it a pretty scary alien invasion story.
Haunted Inside - The old devil's bargain. A man makes a deal with the devil and it comes due.
Counting Tunnels to Berry - A scary train ride. A bit of a Stephen King vibe.
Annie's Heart is a Haunted House - The outcast unpopular girl gets revenge in her dreams.
They Are Still Out There, You Just Can't See Them Anymore - Strange, didn't quite connect.
Overall an excellent collection, thought it was missing some Laird Barron.
The Pelt - A couple finds a strange animal pelt hanging on their fence, leading to an ending that might be either a supernatural horror story or a woman losing her mind.
Wish Wash - One of those fairy tale wish stories with a horror twist.
When I Catch You - A haunted house/stalker story, where a woman is literally haunted by her ex.
What's Missing? - This was one of the weirder stories, with a "perfect" couple deciding something is missing from their lives, and they end up adding more excitement than they bargained for.
Still Life With Bones - Very short story that felt like a 90s teen grunge tale, a bunch of losers getting together years later to talk about all their classmates who are in prison or murdered.
The Things We Did, We Did, Were All For Real - One of the more interesting stories, about a writer who finds a phone booth in the middle of the desert. A tinge of cosmic horror.
Mooncake - A dutiful daughter tries to clean out her hoarder mother's apartment. A bit of a modern urban fairy tale twist.
Dungeon Punchinello - by Josh Malerman, author of Birdbox. One of my favorite stories in the collection, a very grim story about four college friends kidnapped by a madman during a European vacation, and those who escaped.
Below the Wildflower Hill - The obligatory poem. I don't know why every anthology needs one.
Don't Open the Cellar Door - A basic but effective tale where, like many horror stories, the horror is a metaphor (in this case not very metaphorical) for a real-life horror (in this case, the old abusive stepdad).
Roses in the Attic - A Rapunzel twist on the evil stepmother fairy tale.
Peripheral Vision - This story tried a little too hard to be a literary and evocative piece of cosmic horror, but the ending made it a pretty scary alien invasion story.
Haunted Inside - The old devil's bargain. A man makes a deal with the devil and it comes due.
Counting Tunnels to Berry - A scary train ride. A bit of a Stephen King vibe.
Annie's Heart is a Haunted House - The outcast unpopular girl gets revenge in her dreams.
They Are Still Out There, You Just Can't See Them Anymore - Strange, didn't quite connect.
Overall an excellent collection, thought it was missing some Laird Barron.
March 15, 2023
This collection started off so strong with the pieces by Neugebauer, Read, and Piper all proving morbid delights. Piper's in particular was easy to imagine being adapted to live action. Sadly though the only other good ones to be found where Malerman and Tantlinger's stories towards the end. The rest of the collection felt disjointed, unfinished or pointless.
October 25, 2023
All the stories lurking in this anthology are distinct and unpredictable, and could live nowhere else but here. These will remain in the dark corners of my mind for a while: “When I Catch You” Hailey Piper, “Roses in the Dark” Cynthia Pelayo, “Haunted Inside” Gabino Iglesias, “The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real” John F.D. Taff.
November 8, 2022
Along the lines of the more vague horror stories
the writing in this collection is “dread-full” but often produces no more than a general sense of unease. There are a couple of good pieces to this puzzle, but most of it never quite comes together.
the writing in this collection is “dread-full” but often produces no more than a general sense of unease. There are a couple of good pieces to this puzzle, but most of it never quite comes together.
December 30, 2022
Mostly disappointing. There were about 4 or 5 stories that I really liked and the rest were either terrible (in my opinion) or so confusing, I didn't know what the hell had just happened. I hate anthologies where the bad outweighs the good and I just didn't enjoy these...
March 13, 2023
A really excellent collection of stories by some extremely talented writers. Highly recommend it for lovers of contemporary horror stories.
May 10, 2024
Rounded up, for the quality of stories herein is far from constant. Apparently there's only so much you can bluff your way through with a bad hand... (I AM SORRY). Lessons learned: it seems I am consistently uncharmed by Gabino Iglesias. Jonathan Lees needs a stern editor. And some starving goblin ate all the websites in author notes.
August 18, 2025
Sapphire Detective on "Counting Tunnels to Berry" by Alan Baxter
Before I address my favorite story in here, I wanna address the discrepancy between the overall rating and the star rating. While in average it goes out to be about a 4, according to my own rating system, I have to push the star rating up because of the simple fact that this anthology is overall great, and its evidenced in the fact that there isn't a story in here I gave lower than 3 stars (and those were honestly the only ones I didn't remember after the time since I finished reading this anthology). It's a rare privilege to have a book in which all the stories hold up as strongly as the ones in here do.
Okay, now to the favorite. For almost all of this book, I figured I'd have been writing this about the Hailey Piper story, "When I Catch You." Piper is one of my favorite authors, and unsurprisingly the story is also a hit. And I still hold it as one of the best of the collection. But then, when I got to one of the final stories in the collection, I had to hit the brakes on that plan, as I realized that this one was going to be the one I talk about.
"Counting Tunnels to Berry" is a short kind of story, a dark fable of sorts, about the dark sins and secrets the average person holds in their heart. It's all set on a train car that passes through a tunnel and into, well, the Twilight Zone. And that's what this story almost feels like, a classic episode of The Twilight Zone, but with a slight Australian twist. Though we only get to spend a short amount of time with the other characters on the train, they all seem fleshed out and real, and the darkness and panic that come with people stuck in a horrific situation. It evokes the same kind of paranoia like The Mist does, except that in our case, the end of the tunnel is in sight, just never coming, unlike the people stuck in the mall of King's story. I don't want to say more about Baxter's story here, as I said it is a short story and I wouldn't want to spoil anything. But it's well worth the reading, along with the rest of this collection. I'd certainly read anything more of the authors featured here, especially Baxter for this.
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"The Pelt" - Annie Neugebauer: 4/5
"Wish Wash" - Sarah Read: 4/5
"When I Catch You" - Hailey Piper: 5/5
"What's Missing?" - Zoje Stage: 4.5/5
"Still Life with Bones" - Andy Davidson: 3.5/5
"The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real" - John F.D. Taff: 3.5/5
"Mooncake" - Lee Murray: 4/5
"Dungeon Punchinello" - Josh Malerman: 4/5
"Below the Wildflower Hill" - Sara Tantlinger: 4/5
"Don't Open the Cellar Door" - Jo Kaplan: 3.5/5
"Roses in the Attic" - Cynthia Pelayo: 4.5/5
"Peripheral Vision" - Richard Thomas: 3/5
"Haunted Inside" - Gabino Iglesias: 4/5
"Counting Tunnels to Berry" - Alan Baxter: 5/5
"Annie's Heart is a Haunted House" - Todd Keisling: 4.5/5
"They Are Still Out There, You Just Can't See Them Anymore" - Jonathan Lees: 4/5
Overall rating: 4.06/5 (rounded up)
Favorite Stories: "When I Catch You" by Hailey Piper/"Counting Tunnels to Berry" by Alan Baxter
Least Favorite Story: "Peripheral Vision" by Richard Thomas
Would I own/re-read?: Absolutely.
TW: Varies from story to story, but general themes of death, gore, abuse, trauma, body horror, and mental illness/paranoia.
Does the animal die?: Varies from story to story, but notably the first story, Annie Neugebauer's "The Pelt" specifically features animal death.
Before I address my favorite story in here, I wanna address the discrepancy between the overall rating and the star rating. While in average it goes out to be about a 4, according to my own rating system, I have to push the star rating up because of the simple fact that this anthology is overall great, and its evidenced in the fact that there isn't a story in here I gave lower than 3 stars (and those were honestly the only ones I didn't remember after the time since I finished reading this anthology). It's a rare privilege to have a book in which all the stories hold up as strongly as the ones in here do.
Okay, now to the favorite. For almost all of this book, I figured I'd have been writing this about the Hailey Piper story, "When I Catch You." Piper is one of my favorite authors, and unsurprisingly the story is also a hit. And I still hold it as one of the best of the collection. But then, when I got to one of the final stories in the collection, I had to hit the brakes on that plan, as I realized that this one was going to be the one I talk about.
"Counting Tunnels to Berry" is a short kind of story, a dark fable of sorts, about the dark sins and secrets the average person holds in their heart. It's all set on a train car that passes through a tunnel and into, well, the Twilight Zone. And that's what this story almost feels like, a classic episode of The Twilight Zone, but with a slight Australian twist. Though we only get to spend a short amount of time with the other characters on the train, they all seem fleshed out and real, and the darkness and panic that come with people stuck in a horrific situation. It evokes the same kind of paranoia like The Mist does, except that in our case, the end of the tunnel is in sight, just never coming, unlike the people stuck in the mall of King's story. I don't want to say more about Baxter's story here, as I said it is a short story and I wouldn't want to spoil anything. But it's well worth the reading, along with the rest of this collection. I'd certainly read anything more of the authors featured here, especially Baxter for this.
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"The Pelt" - Annie Neugebauer: 4/5
"Wish Wash" - Sarah Read: 4/5
"When I Catch You" - Hailey Piper: 5/5
"What's Missing?" - Zoje Stage: 4.5/5
"Still Life with Bones" - Andy Davidson: 3.5/5
"The Things We Did, We Did, Were All for Real" - John F.D. Taff: 3.5/5
"Mooncake" - Lee Murray: 4/5
"Dungeon Punchinello" - Josh Malerman: 4/5
"Below the Wildflower Hill" - Sara Tantlinger: 4/5
"Don't Open the Cellar Door" - Jo Kaplan: 3.5/5
"Roses in the Attic" - Cynthia Pelayo: 4.5/5
"Peripheral Vision" - Richard Thomas: 3/5
"Haunted Inside" - Gabino Iglesias: 4/5
"Counting Tunnels to Berry" - Alan Baxter: 5/5
"Annie's Heart is a Haunted House" - Todd Keisling: 4.5/5
"They Are Still Out There, You Just Can't See Them Anymore" - Jonathan Lees: 4/5
Overall rating: 4.06/5 (rounded up)
Favorite Stories: "When I Catch You" by Hailey Piper/"Counting Tunnels to Berry" by Alan Baxter
Least Favorite Story: "Peripheral Vision" by Richard Thomas
Would I own/re-read?: Absolutely.
TW: Varies from story to story, but general themes of death, gore, abuse, trauma, body horror, and mental illness/paranoia.
Does the animal die?: Varies from story to story, but notably the first story, Annie Neugebauer's "The Pelt" specifically features animal death.
April 9, 2025
There are some really legitimately stunning stories in this anthology, and I can't believe I slept on reading this when it first came out. I definitely recommend this one to scary story fans, and the highlights include:
What's Missing by Zoje Stage - A long time married couple wonder if something is missing in their lives and get an answer from a menacing, morphing creature.
The Pelt by Annie Neugebauer - This was a favorite of mine in another anthology I recently read, but I liked it so much that I went ahead and read it again in this one.
They Are Still OUt There, You Just Can't See Them Anymore by Jonathan Lees - This was an interesting one. The narrator seems to have been canceled in some way and chooses the wrong town to hide away in.
Haunted Inside by Gabino Iglesias - A man makes a deal with a dark force for prosperity. Obviously, this doesn't go well, and creepy spirits begin following his family.
When I Catch You by Hailey Piper - Piper is one of today's most versatile and entertaining horror writers. In this bleak tale, May keeps seeing eyes everywhere, pearing at her through the cracks in curtains, doors, etc. She and her friend, Starline, believe it's the spirit of May's stalker ex who disappeared shortly after they break up, so they have a seance to contact her. This is of course a terrible idea.
Annie's Heart is a Haunted House by Todd Keisling - I went out and bought a collection of Keisling's work after reading this. A bullied girl traps her tormenters in her dream house. They're stuck indefinitely, the only escape being in brutal death.
Don't Open the Cellar Door by Jo Kaplan -Hailey fights back when her mother's boyfriend tries to rape her, dumping his body in the cellar. For nights afterward (in the creepiest bit in the whole book), she hears him scratching on the underside of her floor. I loved Hailey's expunging of her darkness and finding her power, making for a very satisfying read.
What's Missing by Zoje Stage - A long time married couple wonder if something is missing in their lives and get an answer from a menacing, morphing creature.
The Pelt by Annie Neugebauer - This was a favorite of mine in another anthology I recently read, but I liked it so much that I went ahead and read it again in this one.
They Are Still OUt There, You Just Can't See Them Anymore by Jonathan Lees - This was an interesting one. The narrator seems to have been canceled in some way and chooses the wrong town to hide away in.
Haunted Inside by Gabino Iglesias - A man makes a deal with a dark force for prosperity. Obviously, this doesn't go well, and creepy spirits begin following his family.
When I Catch You by Hailey Piper - Piper is one of today's most versatile and entertaining horror writers. In this bleak tale, May keeps seeing eyes everywhere, pearing at her through the cracks in curtains, doors, etc. She and her friend, Starline, believe it's the spirit of May's stalker ex who disappeared shortly after they break up, so they have a seance to contact her. This is of course a terrible idea.
Annie's Heart is a Haunted House by Todd Keisling - I went out and bought a collection of Keisling's work after reading this. A bullied girl traps her tormenters in her dream house. They're stuck indefinitely, the only escape being in brutal death.
Don't Open the Cellar Door by Jo Kaplan -Hailey fights back when her mother's boyfriend tries to rape her, dumping his body in the cellar. For nights afterward (in the creepiest bit in the whole book), she hears him scratching on the underside of her floor. I loved Hailey's expunging of her darkness and finding her power, making for a very satisfying read.
August 21, 2023
I can see why this won the Shirley Jackson award, the themes are very in line with hers. By the end, you'll hate your family and society in equal measure.
Features lots of goodies that deserve a shout-out but the long Hailey Piper piece in particular deserves note, I loved the yandere ghost. Now I'm thinking I should check out her fantasy novel.
Other favorites were written by Annie Neugebauer, Sarah Read, John FD Taff, Lee Murray, Josh "let's pop these pills and play the bird box challenge" Malerman, Cynthia Pelayo, Richard Thomas, and Jonathan Lees, who writes like a schizo and provided a great final piece to the collection.
Features lots of goodies that deserve a shout-out but the long Hailey Piper piece in particular deserves note, I loved the yandere ghost. Now I'm thinking I should check out her fantasy novel.
Other favorites were written by Annie Neugebauer, Sarah Read, John FD Taff, Lee Murray, Josh "let's pop these pills and play the bird box challenge" Malerman, Cynthia Pelayo, Richard Thomas, and Jonathan Lees, who writes like a schizo and provided a great final piece to the collection.
December 21, 2022
This was a definition of mixed bag. Some of the stories in this collection were great, and others were just there. Nothing was overtly horrible though.
August 3, 2023
I enjoyed all of these haunted stories. Each packed their own punch, but standouts were stories from Josh Malerman, Cynthia Pelayo, Todd Kiesling, and Alan Baxter.
August 26, 2023
An anthology that hits the spot. Different styles, different perspectives but full of dread and unease. Great collection!
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