Drowning: A Clifton Heights Tale

by Kevin Lucia

All Andrew wants is to pay his NYSEG bill and go home. Go home, and try to forget the ruin his life has become. But he's repressed his grief for far too long, and it's unleashed something dark, and angry...and hungry. Now, as he's trapped in a building with several strangers, all it wants to do is feed...

76 pages, Hardcover

Published December 9, 2021

About the author

Kevin Lucia is the ebook and trade paperback editor at Cemetery Dance Publications. His short fiction has been published in many venues, most notably with Clive Barker, David Morell, Peter Straub, Bentley Little, and Robert McCammon.

His first short story collection, Things Slip Through, was published by Crystal Lake Publishing in November, 2013. He's followed that with the collections Through A Mirror, Darkly, Devourer of Souls, Things You Need, October Nights, and the novellas Mystery Road, A Night at Old Webb, and The Night Road.

Reviews

[Kelly Furniss · Rating 4 out of 5]

One quick tale full of intrigue & suspense. I read it in one gulp and thought about it long after I had put it down.

[Ian Gielen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novella but in no way short of story and intrigue, this one builds up the dread by weaving in Andrew’s tragic past throughout the current situation he finds himself in and ultimately leads to a satisfying conclusion that ties up the story nicely and makes you want to call your loved ones and hug them that little more when you see them.
It’s definitely a page turner, is well written and is the perfect length for the story it tells.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun read, buzzed through it in an evening!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kevin Lucia is a new to me author. I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I liked the writing style. I was interested the whole way through. There was a creepy atmosphere. The mystery of the woman in the bathroom started the dread and it kept on building. I liked how the reader slowly figures out what is happening. Very enjoyable.

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A C L I F T O N H E I G H T S T A L E — DROWNING - by Kevin Lucia - Horror Novella

‘All Andrew McCormick wants is to pay his NYSEG bill and go home. Go home, and try to forget the ruin his life has become. But he's repressed his grief for far too long, and it's unleashed something dark, and angry...and hungry.’

In a word, WOW! I love how Lucia wrote the Drowning, a novella centered around a heartbreaking story of grief—My Heart!

I also love the way Lucia wrote the short story, ‘THE WAY OF AH-TZENUL,’ included at the end of the book, narrated from the perspective of a farmer conversing with the town Doctor (the reader) about his wife. This story made me laugh and cringe (in a good way); I LOVE the ending.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, Cemetery Dance Publications, for providing me with an eBook of DROWNING at the request of an honest review.

Note: This title may no longer be available for purchase, my hope, is that it is rereleased.

[Lee-ann Oleski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew has become a broken shell of man, his wife divorcing him, quitting his job and finding himself left with nothing to live for. As he stands in line at the Electric and Gas company to pay his overdue bill, the rain tap-tap-tapping on the roof, events unfold that he never would have thought possible. All at once his repressed grief and sadness come bubbling up from the deep, dark hole he had them buried in, letting out a monster ready to feed. As people start dying, Andrew finally lets go, and accepts responsibility for his past, realizing what must be done to put things at rest for good.

This was a short, intense story that was brutal and emotional all at once. I didn’t know if I should feel sorry for the main character or not, but I could definitely feel his inner thoughts wanting to explode thru the surface to free him of his guilty conscience. For those of you who love grief horror, this ones for you 🙌.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Android needs to pay a overdue bill. He and some others wait in line to pay before the office closes. As the rain pounds down things get really bad inside. Something is in the building with them. There is no escape, and it does not play nice. Frightening tale from the town of Clifton Heights. Unexpected ending.