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Sallow Bend
Something old and deadly has awoken.
When two teenagers go missing from the small, rural town of Sallow Bend, the residents come together to search for them. Little do they suspect that finding the wayward girls will be the start of their problems. An ancient evil is rising, and only one man seems to realize that everyone is in danger and this is not the first time it’s happened. With the carnival in town, people want to have a good time, but for many, this will be the worst time of their lives. SALLOW BEND – a tense and frightening folk horror novel from Alan Baxter and Cemetery Dance Publications.
When two teenagers go missing from the small, rural town of Sallow Bend, the residents come together to search for them. Little do they suspect that finding the wayward girls will be the start of their problems. An ancient evil is rising, and only one man seems to realize that everyone is in danger and this is not the first time it’s happened. With the carnival in town, people want to have a good time, but for many, this will be the worst time of their lives. SALLOW BEND – a tense and frightening folk horror novel from Alan Baxter and Cemetery Dance Publications.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2022
221 people are currently reading
2216 people want to read
About the author
Alan Baxter
134 books533 followersMy book rating system:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brilliant, I bloody loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really good, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyable, well worth a read.
I don't talk about ⭐⭐ and ⭐ reads because I only talking up the good stuff. That's why my Goodreads rarely has anything under a ⭐⭐⭐.
Bio: Alan Baxter is a British-Australian multi-award-winning author of horror, supernatural thrillers, dark fantasy, and crime. He’s also a martial arts expert, a whisky-soaked swear monkey, and dog lover. He creates dark, weird stories among the valleys of southern Tasmania.
Fond him online at www.alanbaxter.com.au
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brilliant, I bloody loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really good, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyable, well worth a read.
I don't talk about ⭐⭐ and ⭐ reads because I only talking up the good stuff. That's why my Goodreads rarely has anything under a ⭐⭐⭐.
Bio: Alan Baxter is a British-Australian multi-award-winning author of horror, supernatural thrillers, dark fantasy, and crime. He’s also a martial arts expert, a whisky-soaked swear monkey, and dog lover. He creates dark, weird stories among the valleys of southern Tasmania.
Fond him online at www.alanbaxter.com.au
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
September 4, 2022
Two girls are missing. When they are found by a carnie, there is an additional girl back named Hester Black. Who is this girl? After her appearance a series of strange deaths occur? Has she something to do with them? How can this girl or whatever she is be stopped? Nail biting old school horror that strongly reminded me at parts on IT by Stephen King. Here too were some people periodically disappearing or killed. The characters in Sallow Bend were well carved, the plot was good and the evil falling on this little town very sinister and haunting. Also the denouement was excellent. Highly recommended modern horror novel in the best old school tradition. Loved it!
December 9, 2022
Spine Chiller Story!
A small backstory:
The town of Sallow Bend goes into a state of panic when two young girls disappear and everyone goes on a search for them. There is a carnival in town too which makes the townspeople nervous that maybe the carnies had something to do with the girls going missing.
When the two girls are found there is something mysteriously curious as three girls are found instead of just the two that went missing, but no one seems to remember that it was just the "two girls" and not three that had disappeared in the first place except for one person which is the janitor of the school, Caleb. He realizes that something is dreadfully wrong and no one seems to remember what really happened.
When Caleb enlists the help of some locals and ends up getting help from the carnies is when things become even more mysterious as who is this third girl that shows up and where did she come from. More importantly what does she want with the people of Sallow Bend?
Who is the third girl? What happened to the other two girls that went missing? What is wrong with the townspeople? What is really going on in the town of Sallow Bend? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
First time reading this author and I was really surprised at how quick I became involved in the storyline. The spookiness of the town and what happens with the girl characters disappearing and then showing back up along with the mystery girl turned more into a haunting tale of what was really going on.
The author slowly brings the story along with lots of mystery and spooky atmosphere then slowly lowers the boom about half way through the book when pieces of the mystery puzzle is revealed a little bit at a time of what is happening within the town. Looking forward to reading more by this author and will be pursing more of his work. Giving this book four "Sinister Spooky" stars!
A small backstory:
The town of Sallow Bend goes into a state of panic when two young girls disappear and everyone goes on a search for them. There is a carnival in town too which makes the townspeople nervous that maybe the carnies had something to do with the girls going missing.
When the two girls are found there is something mysteriously curious as three girls are found instead of just the two that went missing, but no one seems to remember that it was just the "two girls" and not three that had disappeared in the first place except for one person which is the janitor of the school, Caleb. He realizes that something is dreadfully wrong and no one seems to remember what really happened.
When Caleb enlists the help of some locals and ends up getting help from the carnies is when things become even more mysterious as who is this third girl that shows up and where did she come from. More importantly what does she want with the people of Sallow Bend?
Who is the third girl? What happened to the other two girls that went missing? What is wrong with the townspeople? What is really going on in the town of Sallow Bend? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
First time reading this author and I was really surprised at how quick I became involved in the storyline. The spookiness of the town and what happens with the girl characters disappearing and then showing back up along with the mystery girl turned more into a haunting tale of what was really going on.
The author slowly brings the story along with lots of mystery and spooky atmosphere then slowly lowers the boom about half way through the book when pieces of the mystery puzzle is revealed a little bit at a time of what is happening within the town. Looking forward to reading more by this author and will be pursing more of his work. Giving this book four "Sinister Spooky" stars!
September 15, 2023
Sallow Bend takes a little while to build up into the horror of the story, it is first and foremost a mystery tale, but once it does… you’re in for one hell of a ride!
Two young girls have gone missing in the small, rural town of Sallow Bend. Word spreads fast and the residents band together to try and locate them. As we all know, with missing person cases, time is of the essence. But when they return, something is not right… There are now three girls. Everyone in the town seems to remember this mysterious third girl, Hester, apart from the school janitor, Caleb. Does he have something to hide? Who is this Hester? Do the group of carnies who have set up in the town have anything to do with this? Or is something more sinister afoot, more evil than any of them can imagine…
A young couple, Riley and Trisha, are also plagued by the disappearance of their young son, Toby. Riley has turned to alcohol to cope, because he knows the truth of what happened that night in the cabin where he lost Toby to someone - or something - in the darkness.
4.4 Stars
Two young girls have gone missing in the small, rural town of Sallow Bend. Word spreads fast and the residents band together to try and locate them. As we all know, with missing person cases, time is of the essence. But when they return, something is not right… There are now three girls. Everyone in the town seems to remember this mysterious third girl, Hester, apart from the school janitor, Caleb. Does he have something to hide? Who is this Hester? Do the group of carnies who have set up in the town have anything to do with this? Or is something more sinister afoot, more evil than any of them can imagine…
A young couple, Riley and Trisha, are also plagued by the disappearance of their young son, Toby. Riley has turned to alcohol to cope, because he knows the truth of what happened that night in the cabin where he lost Toby to someone - or something - in the darkness.
4.4 Stars
August 27, 2022
Constant readers of Stephen King's small-town horrors shouldn't have much trouble at relocating to Sallow Bend for Alan Baxter's latest. Two girls have gone missing, but after three return, it's up to school janitor Caleb and housewife Tricia to figure out what the heck is happening.
Everybody seems to know teenage Hester, with the shock of white hair down one side of her head, even if they can't explain how or why beyond the brief report that she's always been here. Caleb knows otherwise, and is among the few that recognize the oddity that is Hester's existence and is unaffected by whatever spell she's cast over the town. Unfortunately for Caleb, his days are numbered as Hester begins murdering those who see through her and may be able to thwart her plan to kill every man in Sallow Bend.
What makes Caleb unique is hyper-awareness of those around him and his aggressive ability to read people's facial tics and tells. He's basically a human lie detector, but also a social outcast and an asocial personality. He's drawn into the search for the two missing girls and is taken aback by everyone's behavior when three girls are found. When Tricia's husband goes missing, he's pulled even deeper into the mystery, first as a confidant, and then an ally.
While Baxter delivers some keen jolts and plenty of supernatural mystery, it's the burgeoning relationship between Caleb and Tricia that really grounds Sallow Bend. Their developing relationship is quite charming, and they make for dynamic friends as they get to know each other and Tricia works on drawing Caleb out of his self-made shell. What's most admirable, though, is Baxter's restraint and the subtle explorations of platonic friendship between a man and woman without overwrought sexual tension. In other author's hands, I feel like it would be inevitable for these two to start hitting the sheets, regardless of Tricia's marriage (or perhaps even because of it, given her complications with her hubby gone MIA) and Caleb's disability. Here we're presented simply with the joy of two people discovering one another, finding common ground, and building a healthy relationship free of expectations, sexual or otherwise.
Caleb and Tricia stand at odds with Hester's violent man-hating ways. Although given some of the targets that draw Hester's wrath, it's certainly difficult to call her attacks completely unjustified. As with several of his other titles, Baxter explores toxic masculinity and abuse, and the ways those regressive and violent actions can spiral out into the wider community. Certainly one can extrapolate meaning behind Hester's cyclical attacks upon Sallow Bend, too, as a parallel to the ways in which we as a society continually diminish violence against women and forget about harm done, over and over and over again, ultimately to our own peril.
Everybody seems to know teenage Hester, with the shock of white hair down one side of her head, even if they can't explain how or why beyond the brief report that she's always been here. Caleb knows otherwise, and is among the few that recognize the oddity that is Hester's existence and is unaffected by whatever spell she's cast over the town. Unfortunately for Caleb, his days are numbered as Hester begins murdering those who see through her and may be able to thwart her plan to kill every man in Sallow Bend.
What makes Caleb unique is hyper-awareness of those around him and his aggressive ability to read people's facial tics and tells. He's basically a human lie detector, but also a social outcast and an asocial personality. He's drawn into the search for the two missing girls and is taken aback by everyone's behavior when three girls are found. When Tricia's husband goes missing, he's pulled even deeper into the mystery, first as a confidant, and then an ally.
While Baxter delivers some keen jolts and plenty of supernatural mystery, it's the burgeoning relationship between Caleb and Tricia that really grounds Sallow Bend. Their developing relationship is quite charming, and they make for dynamic friends as they get to know each other and Tricia works on drawing Caleb out of his self-made shell. What's most admirable, though, is Baxter's restraint and the subtle explorations of platonic friendship between a man and woman without overwrought sexual tension. In other author's hands, I feel like it would be inevitable for these two to start hitting the sheets, regardless of Tricia's marriage (or perhaps even because of it, given her complications with her hubby gone MIA) and Caleb's disability. Here we're presented simply with the joy of two people discovering one another, finding common ground, and building a healthy relationship free of expectations, sexual or otherwise.
Caleb and Tricia stand at odds with Hester's violent man-hating ways. Although given some of the targets that draw Hester's wrath, it's certainly difficult to call her attacks completely unjustified. As with several of his other titles, Baxter explores toxic masculinity and abuse, and the ways those regressive and violent actions can spiral out into the wider community. Certainly one can extrapolate meaning behind Hester's cyclical attacks upon Sallow Bend, too, as a parallel to the ways in which we as a society continually diminish violence against women and forget about harm done, over and over and over again, ultimately to our own peril.
November 18, 2025
Don't Know What The f***
Has Gone Down Here...
SALLOW BEND
by Alan Baxter
3 stars. When the carnival comes to Sallow Bend, there is sure to be excitement... NOT!!
Caleb Jackson...
... a mild-mannered, somewhat antisocial school janitor who, along with his friend Tricia Brent...
... team up to solve a spate of child disappearances in The Bend while enjoying hot dogs and cotton candy at the carnival...
The pair will get a little help from carnival manager Ashley and her lesbian lover and clairvoyant sideshow palm reader Sarah...
Indeed...
There are many carnival folk trying to help the pair....
Some of them...
Such as Saul, who runs a lurid Nazi chamber of horrors, populate the story but leave readers wondering: WHY?
The cast of characters is left saying: I don't know what the f*** has gone down here...
And I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment!
This was a mediocre story that left many unanswered questions and, at times, seemed to repeat itself over and over (sorry, am I repeating myself?).
The story moved at a glacial pace until the 80% mark when it looked like something interesting by way of character Saul was about to go down but, alas, nothing about the mystery and danger of this bit part character was explained and expounded upon.
There was, near the end of the novel, parts that seemed familiar to the author's excellent series TALES FROM THE GULP, which is the author's forte, but that, too, led nowhere.
Has Gone Down Here...
SALLOW BEND
by Alan Baxter
3 stars. When the carnival comes to Sallow Bend, there is sure to be excitement... NOT!!
Caleb Jackson...
... a mild-mannered, somewhat antisocial school janitor who, along with his friend Tricia Brent...
... team up to solve a spate of child disappearances in The Bend while enjoying hot dogs and cotton candy at the carnival...
The pair will get a little help from carnival manager Ashley and her lesbian lover and clairvoyant sideshow palm reader Sarah...
Indeed...
There are many carnival folk trying to help the pair....
Some of them...
Such as Saul, who runs a lurid Nazi chamber of horrors, populate the story but leave readers wondering: WHY?
The cast of characters is left saying: I don't know what the f*** has gone down here...
And I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment!
This was a mediocre story that left many unanswered questions and, at times, seemed to repeat itself over and over (sorry, am I repeating myself?).
The story moved at a glacial pace until the 80% mark when it looked like something interesting by way of character Saul was about to go down but, alas, nothing about the mystery and danger of this bit part character was explained and expounded upon.
There was, near the end of the novel, parts that seemed familiar to the author's excellent series TALES FROM THE GULP, which is the author's forte, but that, too, led nowhere.
April 12, 2023
Shallow Bend
By Allan Baxter
This was a pretty good horror! A carnival comes to town, it normally makes the circuit through there but this time it feels wrong. They should have just left!
Two girls go missing but they find three girls. Only one guy notices. The rest of the town suddenly believes 3 went missing and everyone knows that 3rd girl. Then the deaths start up.
It's a good horror story. Enjoyable!
By Allan Baxter
This was a pretty good horror! A carnival comes to town, it normally makes the circuit through there but this time it feels wrong. They should have just left!
Two girls go missing but they find three girls. Only one guy notices. The rest of the town suddenly believes 3 went missing and everyone knows that 3rd girl. Then the deaths start up.
It's a good horror story. Enjoyable!
July 12, 2022
Tricia is still grieving the loss of her son Toby. She tries to hold out hope that he is alive and will be found someday but he's been missing for a year and it's just not looking good. Her marriage has also taken a hit since her husband's drinking has spiraled out of control ever since their son disappeared. Now two young girls have gone missing and Tricia wants to help with the search. Some of the locals suspect the carny folk while others are suspicious of Caleb, the school janitor who can never look anyone in the eye for long. Tricia and Caleb team up in the search but what they discover goes far beyond their wildest fears.
The girls are found alive, but only Caleb realizes that something is horribly wrong. They were searching for two girls so why have they come back with three? Who or what is this stranger? And why does the entire town think they've known her all her life?
The three girls are now inseparable, and unnatural deaths seem to follow everywhere they go.
I loved this book so much! There is an old superstitious saying when you get a weird unexplained chill, that it's because a goose just walked over your grave. This book gave me chills so many times that the entire gaggle of geese must have walked over mine.
Sallow Bend was a pleasantly creepy surprise for me. It has pretty much everything my heart desires in a horror novel. There's a small town with a dark past, lots of secrets, the carnival rolling in at the perfect moment to get blamed for some disappearances, and a whole lot of supernatural goings-on.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the digital copy.
The girls are found alive, but only Caleb realizes that something is horribly wrong. They were searching for two girls so why have they come back with three? Who or what is this stranger? And why does the entire town think they've known her all her life?
The three girls are now inseparable, and unnatural deaths seem to follow everywhere they go.
I loved this book so much! There is an old superstitious saying when you get a weird unexplained chill, that it's because a goose just walked over your grave. This book gave me chills so many times that the entire gaggle of geese must have walked over mine.
Sallow Bend was a pleasantly creepy surprise for me. It has pretty much everything my heart desires in a horror novel. There's a small town with a dark past, lots of secrets, the carnival rolling in at the perfect moment to get blamed for some disappearances, and a whole lot of supernatural goings-on.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the digital copy.
January 14, 2023
3.0 Stars
This is an enjoyable if not tropey horror story. I liked the mystery but at times the story felt overwritten with too many repeating conversations.
I would primarily recommend this one to horror fans who especially love this kinds of stories involving small town evils.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is an enjoyable if not tropey horror story. I liked the mystery but at times the story felt overwritten with too many repeating conversations.
I would primarily recommend this one to horror fans who especially love this kinds of stories involving small town evils.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 15, 2023
Spooky
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
Sallow Bend by Alan Baxter, is a good Horror story.
Hester is back in town…
I recommend it!
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
Sallow Bend by Alan Baxter, is a good Horror story.
Hester is back in town…
I recommend it!
October 21, 2023
Sallow Bend is an ok horror novel that's not overly scary or inventive but does has some good characters, is well written but leaves unanswered questions.
Children have been going missing from Sallow Bend of recent times and when a carnival comes to town two further young teens disappear. One of the carnival folk find the girls in the backwoods in an abandoned shack however instead of two girls returning its three with Hester another 13 year old appearing out of nowhere coming with them.
Everyone in the town except a select few seem to think this normal and believe Hester has been a resident of the town....she hasnt however and there is something way more sinister to Hester and she has a grip on the town and death follows her.
Sounds pretty good right? Well it is decent but I felt it just dragged on and on in parts. Alot of time is taken up reading about the carnival folk and the prejudice they suffer when they come to town and their politics. We get a few violent scenes here and there but it does seem not alot really happens with the main story line until the final 15 percent of the book.
This isn't to say it's a bad story at all as its definitely written very well but the plot just didn't pull me in making me want to continue reading it so this one took a while to get through. I seem to be in the minority with my opinion on this so read it for yourself and you may enjoy it more. Just average for me.
Children have been going missing from Sallow Bend of recent times and when a carnival comes to town two further young teens disappear. One of the carnival folk find the girls in the backwoods in an abandoned shack however instead of two girls returning its three with Hester another 13 year old appearing out of nowhere coming with them.
Everyone in the town except a select few seem to think this normal and believe Hester has been a resident of the town....she hasnt however and there is something way more sinister to Hester and she has a grip on the town and death follows her.
Sounds pretty good right? Well it is decent but I felt it just dragged on and on in parts. Alot of time is taken up reading about the carnival folk and the prejudice they suffer when they come to town and their politics. We get a few violent scenes here and there but it does seem not alot really happens with the main story line until the final 15 percent of the book.
This isn't to say it's a bad story at all as its definitely written very well but the plot just didn't pull me in making me want to continue reading it so this one took a while to get through. I seem to be in the minority with my opinion on this so read it for yourself and you may enjoy it more. Just average for me.
September 2, 2022
I really anticipated this book, but it was terrible. All the characters except Caleb are incredibly one dimensional. The worldbuilding was flat, as papery as the book it was written on. Also, for some reason, Caleb has all the symptoms of Autism, but the author dismisses him having autism (instead having another more magical disability that can immediately tell if someone's lying and what they're really feeling)?
Do not recommend this to anyone.
Do not recommend this to anyone.
March 31, 2023
I loved this book so much. The perfect blend of creepy vibes, suspense and character development. He included diverse characters that I appreciated. It kept me on my toes and I honestly did not want it to end. The ending was good but I did want it to end a little differently. I could have taken more of a cliffhanger. I will absolutely be reading more from this author.
August 10, 2022
“I think people have an incredible ability to forget things they don’t like, and to make the same mistakes over and over again”-Caleb
SALLOW BEND by @warrior_scribe from @cemeterydancepub -Two girls happen to go missing on the night the annual carnival comes to Sallow Bend. Should the town folk be afraid of the carnies? Or should the carnies be afraid of Sallow Bend?
Now don’t start thinking this another take on Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, because Sallow Bend is much more frightening. Alan Baxter nails the intimacy of both small town life as well as what it might be like to live among a traveling carnival. He has created a world of imagery that plays out before your eyes. Sallow Bend also has a large cast of wonderful characters such as Caleb and Tricia. Caleb deals with sensory overload, he picks up on all body language and micro-expressions making it hard to be near people. He is awkward yet kind. Tricia’s young son went missing last year and was never found. This unlikely pair work to uncover an evil that no one seems to remember but them.
Sallow Bend is mystery upon mystery with tense and disconcerting scenes. If this were a movie, I would have been covering my eyes preparing for a jump scare several times.
I haven’t been this creeped out by a little girl since Regan in The Exorcist.
SALLOW BEND by @warrior_scribe from @cemeterydancepub -Two girls happen to go missing on the night the annual carnival comes to Sallow Bend. Should the town folk be afraid of the carnies? Or should the carnies be afraid of Sallow Bend?
Now don’t start thinking this another take on Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, because Sallow Bend is much more frightening. Alan Baxter nails the intimacy of both small town life as well as what it might be like to live among a traveling carnival. He has created a world of imagery that plays out before your eyes. Sallow Bend also has a large cast of wonderful characters such as Caleb and Tricia. Caleb deals with sensory overload, he picks up on all body language and micro-expressions making it hard to be near people. He is awkward yet kind. Tricia’s young son went missing last year and was never found. This unlikely pair work to uncover an evil that no one seems to remember but them.
Sallow Bend is mystery upon mystery with tense and disconcerting scenes. If this were a movie, I would have been covering my eyes preparing for a jump scare several times.
I haven’t been this creeped out by a little girl since Regan in The Exorcist.
November 30, 2022
Such a good read!
The author quickly had me lost in his very creepy world. I loved our characters and was particularly interested in Hester - who was she and what was her story?
Pacing of the book was perfect - honestly, I only stopped reading when work and sleep got in the way.
A creepy, small town horror read.
I'd love more!
The author quickly had me lost in his very creepy world. I loved our characters and was particularly interested in Hester - who was she and what was her story?
Pacing of the book was perfect - honestly, I only stopped reading when work and sleep got in the way.
A creepy, small town horror read.
I'd love more!
July 18, 2022
Review in the July 2022 Booklist and on the blog [link live on 7/19]: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/07...
4.5 Stars.
Three Words That Describe This Book: multiple points of view, small town horror, intensifying terror
An excellent small town horror, page turner with folk horror elements. The sense of place is strong.
Multiple points of view add character development and increases the pacing. History of the town is VERY important. A Carnival in town as well-- for me personally this is a frame I LOVE!!!!
The tone beings very uneasily-- kids are missing but it escalates steadily and intensely to terror.
Missing children is the overall frame and there is harm to children, but it is not gratuitous.
Baxter wins awards and is very popular in his native Australia and this should be his coming out party in America. Buy this one. Your horror readers will love it.
This was Hex by Olde Huevelt meets Daphne by Malerman. Old school Stephen King fans will like it as well.
The focus here is on the adults, not the kids, and how they address the horror and come to terms with their own mistakes and choices. So while on the surface books like Something Wicked This Way Comes or even Children of the Dark may seem like comp titles, they might not be. For me they are, but those titles give the pov to the teens. This does not. I liked that and found it refreshing.
The only things keeping it from 5 stars are-- I thought it took place in Australia because there were some words that are used in their version of English rather than American English, which was fine, but then somewhere in the middle Atlanta was mentioned and that threw me off. I was fine thinking it was Australia. This is editing, bit Baxter's issue and a very minor detail because this could take place anywhere in any small town.
And this-- I don't want to spoil but there is a character from the Carnival workers who becomes important and I wish there was more time about who he really is and what power he holds. I'dd read a whole book about him. Maybe that is a good thing that I want more.
A must buy for every library. Just the Hex comp alone will draw in readers immediately.
4.5 Stars.
Three Words That Describe This Book: multiple points of view, small town horror, intensifying terror
An excellent small town horror, page turner with folk horror elements. The sense of place is strong.
Multiple points of view add character development and increases the pacing. History of the town is VERY important. A Carnival in town as well-- for me personally this is a frame I LOVE!!!!
The tone beings very uneasily-- kids are missing but it escalates steadily and intensely to terror.
Missing children is the overall frame and there is harm to children, but it is not gratuitous.
Baxter wins awards and is very popular in his native Australia and this should be his coming out party in America. Buy this one. Your horror readers will love it.
This was Hex by Olde Huevelt meets Daphne by Malerman. Old school Stephen King fans will like it as well.
The focus here is on the adults, not the kids, and how they address the horror and come to terms with their own mistakes and choices. So while on the surface books like Something Wicked This Way Comes or even Children of the Dark may seem like comp titles, they might not be. For me they are, but those titles give the pov to the teens. This does not. I liked that and found it refreshing.
The only things keeping it from 5 stars are-- I thought it took place in Australia because there were some words that are used in their version of English rather than American English, which was fine, but then somewhere in the middle Atlanta was mentioned and that threw me off. I was fine thinking it was Australia. This is editing, bit Baxter's issue and a very minor detail because this could take place anywhere in any small town.
And this-- I don't want to spoil but there is a character from the Carnival workers who becomes important and I wish there was more time about who he really is and what power he holds. I'dd read a whole book about him. Maybe that is a good thing that I want more.
A must buy for every library. Just the Hex comp alone will draw in readers immediately.
September 9, 2022
Thanks Alan! Loved it!
March 20, 2023
3.5
A straight up small town horror with a long list of characters, but focussing mostly on the emotionally stilted Caleb.
The basic premise of two girls disappearing and three girls returning is brilliantly creepy.
Some scenes were exceptionally done, some characters - particularly one carnival worker - were very good.
In terms of the downsides, I felt a few bits were a bit repetitive as if to labour the point somewhat, and there was a bit too much explanation in some of the later dialogue..great for helping the reader along, but a bit jarring in terms of giving the sense of being there and in the moment.
Up until the 70% mark I thought the book was even better but do think it lost it’s way slightly in the final third, becoming a bit too neat, lots of odd choices from the characters and quick decisions to move matters along.
Still a very enjoyable first read from this author and now plan on reading the Gulp stories.
A straight up small town horror with a long list of characters, but focussing mostly on the emotionally stilted Caleb.
The basic premise of two girls disappearing and three girls returning is brilliantly creepy.
Some scenes were exceptionally done, some characters - particularly one carnival worker - were very good.
In terms of the downsides, I felt a few bits were a bit repetitive as if to labour the point somewhat, and there was a bit too much explanation in some of the later dialogue..great for helping the reader along, but a bit jarring in terms of giving the sense of being there and in the moment.
Up until the 70% mark I thought the book was even better but do think it lost it’s way slightly in the final third, becoming a bit too neat, lots of odd choices from the characters and quick decisions to move matters along.
Still a very enjoyable first read from this author and now plan on reading the Gulp stories.
September 9, 2022
Small town horror perfection.
This book was a complete joy to read from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the amazing characters, lots of quirkiness in here, especially loving Caleb. I had a knot in my stomach for the last half of the book and could not put it down, I was so anxious to find out what was going to happen. I loved this and was inspired.
There once was a girl named Hester,
Whose hate would continue to fester,
The townsfolk would pay,
In a horrible way,
Until someone would come that could best her.
This book was a complete joy to read from beginning to end. I loved getting to know the amazing characters, lots of quirkiness in here, especially loving Caleb. I had a knot in my stomach for the last half of the book and could not put it down, I was so anxious to find out what was going to happen. I loved this and was inspired.
There once was a girl named Hester,
Whose hate would continue to fester,
The townsfolk would pay,
In a horrible way,
Until someone would come that could best her.
January 24, 2024
Excellent story! Review shortly.
May 9, 2024
4 stars audio
3.5 stars story
3.5 stars story
July 21, 2022
1st: A huge thank you to Alan Baxter & Cemetery Dance for the ARC.
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“Hester Black is dead. It’s not right. None of this is right”
————————————-
2 girls go missing; 3 return. No one seems to remember it was just the 2 and everyone’s convinced that the mysterious third has always lived in Sallow Bend.
-Everyone except Caleb, that is.
————————————-
Rage & grief can drive a person mad, and this is very much a story about that.
Sallow Bend is like no other town; every so often a string of disappearances & violent deaths (both murder & suicide) occur.
-Way more than any town has any business experiencing.
School janitor Caleb initially moved to the town to get away from people, but he soon gets dragged into the weirdness when police show up at his door asking about 2 missing school girls. As it turns out, the missing girls eventually return, but things are about to get very bad for the town as someone/something is out for vengeance and no townie is left safe.
————————————
I love folk horror centered on towns and this one joins the more enjoyable ones I’ve read. It’s massively refreshing to have horror be this inclusive; both of the gay community and people on the spectrum.
It’s heavily implied that Caleb has ASD (the struggle to filter out sensations and impressions is one I’ve come across in patients myself). I really can’t remember the last time I read a story that had a main character with the condition and who showed this much agency; I’m pleased. The impression I get is that this is an author who didn’t just spend time weaving a great horror story, but thought about the characters and how he wanted to represent and include them.
Genuinely creepy, sad (the kids are definitely not safe here, folks!) and touching; what Baxter has done here is masterful.
The town of Sallow Bend (with all of its warmth, grief & prejudices), and Caleb & Tricia’s unlikely friendship both live rent free in my heart.
-Also; Creepy cabin! Carnies! Witches!
-Sallow Bend will be out later this year (August/September), and you can preorder a copy from Cemetery Dance.
————————————-
“Hester Black is dead. It’s not right. None of this is right”
————————————-
2 girls go missing; 3 return. No one seems to remember it was just the 2 and everyone’s convinced that the mysterious third has always lived in Sallow Bend.
-Everyone except Caleb, that is.
————————————-
Rage & grief can drive a person mad, and this is very much a story about that.
Sallow Bend is like no other town; every so often a string of disappearances & violent deaths (both murder & suicide) occur.
-Way more than any town has any business experiencing.
School janitor Caleb initially moved to the town to get away from people, but he soon gets dragged into the weirdness when police show up at his door asking about 2 missing school girls. As it turns out, the missing girls eventually return, but things are about to get very bad for the town as someone/something is out for vengeance and no townie is left safe.
————————————
I love folk horror centered on towns and this one joins the more enjoyable ones I’ve read. It’s massively refreshing to have horror be this inclusive; both of the gay community and people on the spectrum.
It’s heavily implied that Caleb has ASD (the struggle to filter out sensations and impressions is one I’ve come across in patients myself). I really can’t remember the last time I read a story that had a main character with the condition and who showed this much agency; I’m pleased. The impression I get is that this is an author who didn’t just spend time weaving a great horror story, but thought about the characters and how he wanted to represent and include them.
Genuinely creepy, sad (the kids are definitely not safe here, folks!) and touching; what Baxter has done here is masterful.
The town of Sallow Bend (with all of its warmth, grief & prejudices), and Caleb & Tricia’s unlikely friendship both live rent free in my heart.
-Also; Creepy cabin! Carnies! Witches!
-Sallow Bend will be out later this year (August/September), and you can preorder a copy from Cemetery Dance.
January 9, 2023
After seeing the high average rating for this novel on GR, I decided to give Alan Baxter a second chance after reading his lack-luster "Manifest Recall." I sorely regret that decision. "Sallow Bend" is a mediocre tale that plods along for far too long, intent on ticking off every woke box along the way. To wit: A father taking his son on a hike through the woods? Toxic masculinity! A carnival stall selling dream catchers? Cultural appropriation!! A junior high kid making a dick joke? Misogyny!!! And if, by chance, you just happen to forget that 99% of men are utter scum, the author will be quick to remind you of this universal truism within the next couple pages. It seems to be the main tenet of this book, right up to the closing chapter.
Judging by the number of errors in the text, I think even the proof reader might've DNF'd this one. But it's Cemetery Dance, so I'm not surprised. If it's not Chizmar's name on the cover, I don't think they much care over there.
Judging by the number of errors in the text, I think even the proof reader might've DNF'd this one. But it's Cemetery Dance, so I'm not surprised. If it's not Chizmar's name on the cover, I don't think they much care over there.
March 12, 2024
This is a fantastic supernatural horror story set in the small town of the titular Sallow Bend.
A traveling carnival comes to town and two girls go missing. The carnies play a big role in this novel but they are not responsible even though some townsfolk think otherwise.
Two girls are missing. But eventually, three are found. This doesn't seem to bother anyone except for the janitor of the school. Everyone else insists the third girl has always been here.
Then, people start dying in horrific ways and it's up to one man and a woman to figure out who, or what, that third girl is.
I loved the small town vibe and the secrets we'll find out about it's past as the book progresses. The characters are great and there are some surprises with them along the way. The disturbing mystery about the third girl keeps the narrative tense and suspenseful.
I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for a rollicking good supernatural story.
A traveling carnival comes to town and two girls go missing. The carnies play a big role in this novel but they are not responsible even though some townsfolk think otherwise.
Two girls are missing. But eventually, three are found. This doesn't seem to bother anyone except for the janitor of the school. Everyone else insists the third girl has always been here.
Then, people start dying in horrific ways and it's up to one man and a woman to figure out who, or what, that third girl is.
I loved the small town vibe and the secrets we'll find out about it's past as the book progresses. The characters are great and there are some surprises with them along the way. The disturbing mystery about the third girl keeps the narrative tense and suspenseful.
I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for a rollicking good supernatural story.
September 2, 2022
The peaceful town of Sallow Bend is looking forward to the opening of the annual carnival when two young girls.go missing. The towns people suspect the carnies and tensions run high until one of the carnival folk finds the girls in an old, abandoned cottage deep in the woods. All three of them. No one in the town thinks there is anything strange about this apart from Caleb Jackson, the neurodivergant school janitor who has never seen the third girl before in his life. Then people begin to die.
I absolutely adored this book. There are a lot of genuinely creepy moments and despite the gradual and relentless building of tension, Baxter manages to do some really quite fantastic character work, not only with Caleb, but with most of the supporting characters as well.
It's especially great to see the primary protagonists being anything other than the standard white, muscular and handsome police officer. He's here, but is so caught up in the evil spell afflicting the town that he is not much more than window dressing. Instead the protagonist is a shy, neurodivergant man who can't cope with the information overload of human contact, a middle aged housewife going through a terrible loss, and a few well fleshed our carnival folk.
I've been a fan of Alan's work since I read The Roo last year. Here he swaps the Australian outback for small town America seamlessly. While on the face of it his tale of a demonic kangaroo terrorising an outback community and this one are quite different, the underlying theme of the effects of toxic masculinity are present in both.
This is one of my favourite reads this year. I tore through it in a day, staying up until 2am until I finished it. I can't really give a much stronger recommendation than that.
I absolutely adored this book. There are a lot of genuinely creepy moments and despite the gradual and relentless building of tension, Baxter manages to do some really quite fantastic character work, not only with Caleb, but with most of the supporting characters as well.
It's especially great to see the primary protagonists being anything other than the standard white, muscular and handsome police officer. He's here, but is so caught up in the evil spell afflicting the town that he is not much more than window dressing. Instead the protagonist is a shy, neurodivergant man who can't cope with the information overload of human contact, a middle aged housewife going through a terrible loss, and a few well fleshed our carnival folk.
I've been a fan of Alan's work since I read The Roo last year. Here he swaps the Australian outback for small town America seamlessly. While on the face of it his tale of a demonic kangaroo terrorising an outback community and this one are quite different, the underlying theme of the effects of toxic masculinity are present in both.
This is one of my favourite reads this year. I tore through it in a day, staying up until 2am until I finished it. I can't really give a much stronger recommendation than that.
May 11, 2023
A short story in a novel length.
The premise had promise, as so many do. There is a lot to potentially like in this story, but it all felt very amateurish in the execution.
No atmosphere. No real character in the setting. Lots of telling instead of showing, which isn't always a problem but in this case results in multiple characters having their motivations and psychology just laid out in a few sentences. The dialogue is stiff and corny in some places, but overly verbose and flowery in others. No one had a real voice, even though we're given multiple pots. Caleb is the closest thing we get to a fleshed out character, and he was interesting enough that I finished the book.
Don't get me started on the villain. She felt like something a very young child had written. Very melodramatic and terribly unscary.
I'd be interested in seeing how the author could get better with a few more attempts and a plot that's more novel length. The whole story could have been resolved in 25 pages, so reading 200 more was tiring.
I'm not a hater. Your mileage, may vary.
The premise had promise, as so many do. There is a lot to potentially like in this story, but it all felt very amateurish in the execution.
No atmosphere. No real character in the setting. Lots of telling instead of showing, which isn't always a problem but in this case results in multiple characters having their motivations and psychology just laid out in a few sentences. The dialogue is stiff and corny in some places, but overly verbose and flowery in others. No one had a real voice, even though we're given multiple pots. Caleb is the closest thing we get to a fleshed out character, and he was interesting enough that I finished the book.
Don't get me started on the villain. She felt like something a very young child had written. Very melodramatic and terribly unscary.
I'd be interested in seeing how the author could get better with a few more attempts and a plot that's more novel length. The whole story could have been resolved in 25 pages, so reading 200 more was tiring.
I'm not a hater. Your mileage, may vary.
July 24, 2022
Sallow Bend is a chilling, supernatural horror story by author Alan Baxter. This is my first book by this author but I am looking forward to reading more. Set in small town, Sallow Bend the story starts of slow but once it gets going it will have you hooked. Two young girls go missing, but three young girls come back. Who is this mysterious third girl and why does everyone except Caleb think they have known her their whole lives. I loved the carnival element, there is just something creepy about carnivals. I enjoyed the character of Caleb and found myself invested in him and seeing him succeed in his mission. Overall, this was a fun and easy to read horror novel that will leave you wanting more and sleeping with the lights on!
Thank you to Cemetery Dance Publications and Alan Baxter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
Thank you to Cemetery Dance Publications and Alan Baxter for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
December 6, 2022
Sallow Bend is a pretty spooky novel with killer character who lives up to the horror hype. Her page presence is unsettling and supernatural in nature which bodes well for a good horror story. The only thing which let the book down was the repetitive nature of storytelling in parts with conversations rehashing events multiple times; this felt like it detracted the progressive narrative, putting a stop to a very good plot. Still well worth a read though.
September 2, 2022
Appealingly old fashioned small town horror yarn from Aussie scribe Alan Baxter. Chockers with quirky characters and creepy events that culminates in a suitably gnarly ending.
Very solid stuff from one of Australia's strongest and most consistently compelling horror writers.
Very solid stuff from one of Australia's strongest and most consistently compelling horror writers.
October 22, 2022
A great folk horror book and it had everything: an abandoned cabin, a carnival in town, a small town with a dark past, and great characters. The author really hooks you from the very beginning and doesn't let up. Highly recommended book and author.
August 19, 2022
Eerie intense read. Two girls disappear as the carnival sets up. When they are found everyone wants to have fun at carnival. But something evil is in the town.
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