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Woe To Those Who Dwell On Earth
From the author of “The Warrior Retreat” comes a collection of chilling horror stories.
A lunar miner wakes from cryo-sleep to discover her crew missing. Will she survive the nightmare?
After being ambushed in enemy territory, a squad of Marines discover the enemy is the least of their worries.
A horrible neighbor will make you think twice about eating at a cookout.
A toy drive at a local Christmas tree farm transforms from nice to naughty in the blink of an eye.
Two newlyweds celebrate their honeymoon aboard a cruise, but these secrets will ruin a marriage.
These stories and more tales of terror await…
WOE TO THOSE WHO DWELL ON EARTH
A lunar miner wakes from cryo-sleep to discover her crew missing. Will she survive the nightmare?
After being ambushed in enemy territory, a squad of Marines discover the enemy is the least of their worries.
A horrible neighbor will make you think twice about eating at a cookout.
A toy drive at a local Christmas tree farm transforms from nice to naughty in the blink of an eye.
Two newlyweds celebrate their honeymoon aboard a cruise, but these secrets will ruin a marriage.
These stories and more tales of terror await…
WOE TO THOSE WHO DWELL ON EARTH
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2023
25 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
John Lynch
14 books179 followersJohn Lynch is a United States Marine Corps Veteran. He writes horror in Rhode Island with his cat, and English Bulldog.
He is most known for his debut novel, The Warrior Retreat.
Sign up for for my newsletter here https://johnlynchbooks.substack.com/ and follow him over on book bub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-... for sales notifications
He is most known for his debut novel, The Warrior Retreat.
Sign up for for my newsletter here https://johnlynchbooks.substack.com/ and follow him over on book bub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-... for sales notifications
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 5, 2023
Full review at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...
This is an interesting collection and one that showcases the imagination of a very talented author. From supernatural to environmental to outer space and more, the horror stories are quite diverse on subject matter.
Now, I know there has been rumors that some of these stories may have been conceived while he was sharing a foxhole with another very talented horror author, but I refuse to lend my ears to the rumor mill. I will, however, buy the video if it comes out…
At ease, men…
4.5 stars
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...
This is an interesting collection and one that showcases the imagination of a very talented author. From supernatural to environmental to outer space and more, the horror stories are quite diverse on subject matter.
Now, I know there has been rumors that some of these stories may have been conceived while he was sharing a foxhole with another very talented horror author, but I refuse to lend my ears to the rumor mill. I will, however, buy the video if it comes out…
At ease, men…
4.5 stars
January 18, 2023
I’ve had the pleasure of watching John progress through his writing over the last few years. It first started with beta reading some of his short fiction, and has now moved to reading his debut novel and now this, his debut collection.
One thing that has become evident through his continued development, is that much like in his real life, the military will play a large role in his fiction. This is showcased by the prime narrative of his novel, as well as a number of the stories within this collection and even the cover.
What I liked: The collection opens up with three solid stories, the first ‘Blood in the Sand’ being my personal favorite of those. It was a military based story with a really great creature angle. John does action sequences and aspects really well, making it feel more cinematic than just something described. Other highlights for me were;
‘Stasis’ – my favorite story within the collection. A solid, sci-fi/horror story about Lynne, who wakes up from her long-term sleeping or stasis pod, only to discover carnage and some fantastic wiggly creatures creating chaos. John has a keen eye for the sci-fi/horror angle so I’m hoping to see more of this type of stuff in the future from him.
‘The Hale Koa Incident’ – two military members ignore dire warnings and still go kayaking in an area they’re not supposed to. Once they get in the water and go snorkeling, things take a turn and the consequences are life-changing.
‘Open the Window, Tommy’ – a really great and creepy Halloween story. Normally, this might feel out of place being a ‘seasonal specific’ story, but seeing as how there was an early Christmas story (The Tree Farm), it fits. This one involves two kids, a scary event and a lifetime of purgatory. Great stuff.
‘The Newlyweds’ – this is a really fun, totally bonkers story that follows two older newlyweds as they go on vacation. Of all the stories, I’d say this one is the most splattery of them and is just a ton of gut-churning fun.
What I didn’t like: The reality is, I’m not a huge fan of military stuff. It doesn’t matter if it’s books or movies/TV shows, it’s just not something that has ever really grabbed me or super intrigued me to watch/read. So, if you’re in the same boat as me, you may struggle with that considering more than half of the stories are military based in some regard.
Why you should buy this: Over the course of a novel and a collection, John’s certainly demonstrated that he is a solid, deft writer who has the chops to grab the reader and not let go. I think this one’s going to connect with a ton of people who like this style of writing and will set him up well for his further releases and having people anticipating what’s next from him. A really solid collection that will have horror fans squirming while they read.
One thing that has become evident through his continued development, is that much like in his real life, the military will play a large role in his fiction. This is showcased by the prime narrative of his novel, as well as a number of the stories within this collection and even the cover.
What I liked: The collection opens up with three solid stories, the first ‘Blood in the Sand’ being my personal favorite of those. It was a military based story with a really great creature angle. John does action sequences and aspects really well, making it feel more cinematic than just something described. Other highlights for me were;
‘Stasis’ – my favorite story within the collection. A solid, sci-fi/horror story about Lynne, who wakes up from her long-term sleeping or stasis pod, only to discover carnage and some fantastic wiggly creatures creating chaos. John has a keen eye for the sci-fi/horror angle so I’m hoping to see more of this type of stuff in the future from him.
‘The Hale Koa Incident’ – two military members ignore dire warnings and still go kayaking in an area they’re not supposed to. Once they get in the water and go snorkeling, things take a turn and the consequences are life-changing.
‘Open the Window, Tommy’ – a really great and creepy Halloween story. Normally, this might feel out of place being a ‘seasonal specific’ story, but seeing as how there was an early Christmas story (The Tree Farm), it fits. This one involves two kids, a scary event and a lifetime of purgatory. Great stuff.
‘The Newlyweds’ – this is a really fun, totally bonkers story that follows two older newlyweds as they go on vacation. Of all the stories, I’d say this one is the most splattery of them and is just a ton of gut-churning fun.
What I didn’t like: The reality is, I’m not a huge fan of military stuff. It doesn’t matter if it’s books or movies/TV shows, it’s just not something that has ever really grabbed me or super intrigued me to watch/read. So, if you’re in the same boat as me, you may struggle with that considering more than half of the stories are military based in some regard.
Why you should buy this: Over the course of a novel and a collection, John’s certainly demonstrated that he is a solid, deft writer who has the chops to grab the reader and not let go. I think this one’s going to connect with a ton of people who like this style of writing and will set him up well for his further releases and having people anticipating what’s next from him. A really solid collection that will have horror fans squirming while they read.
January 14, 2023
A great collection to follow up Lynch's debut, The Warrior Retreat. The stories are military heavy, which isn't usually my thing, but it didn't take away from how well written they were. Thoroughly enjoyed this collection. Standout stories for me were Stasis, Wing Night, and Noose.
February 7, 2023
Another home run from Lynch. Each short story in this collection was unique from the next showing his range in story telling. My favourites of the bunch were ‘Blood in the Sand’ & ‘Cock-Meat Sandwich’. If you’re looking for something that will challenge you, scare you, disgust you & intrigue you, pick this up.
Can’t wait to read more from him. Definitely proving to be a huge talent in the genre.
Can’t wait to read more from him. Definitely proving to be a huge talent in the genre.
October 10, 2023
I thought that all the stories in this collection were going to be military horror, but they weren't. Not that it would have been a bad thing if they were, it was a great surprise when I got to the first story without a military theme.
I loved that you could tell the author had a military background while reading QRF, Blood In the Sand and The Butcher of Bridgeport.
Open the Window , Tommy gave me Salem's Lot vibes even though I don't think it was necessarily about a vampire.
This collection is a great place to start if you want to sample different types of horror stories. There's even Halloween and Christmas themed stories.
I loved that you could tell the author had a military background while reading QRF, Blood In the Sand and The Butcher of Bridgeport.
Open the Window , Tommy gave me Salem's Lot vibes even though I don't think it was necessarily about a vampire.
This collection is a great place to start if you want to sample different types of horror stories. There's even Halloween and Christmas themed stories.
May 18, 2023
Well alright..... I really liked this collection. I decided to pick this up because the warrior retreat kicked ass and I thought might as well try this one. This collection of stories fuckin rocks. John Lynch shows his storytelling ability in this collection.... While most stories have a military vibe there is something here for everyone from creepy and dark to brutal and gross this collection rocks highly recommend this to all horror fans awesome writer and collection.
August 19, 2023
What a collection! Yes, Lynch puts his military horror on full display, but he does so much more than that. These stories were creepy, descriptive, and action packed. Highly recommend!
January 19, 2023
I had an epic opportunity to review a new book from our up & coming John Lynch & I clearly have waited too long in giving this indie writer a chance because this collection of short stories was insanely satisfying & dark like how I take my coffee. Some of these stories went to very dark places. It had everything that sold: sex, violence, gore & all the other delicious ingredients that go with this hardcore book.
You can definitely tell this book came from more than just personal experience. To anyone who has military experience or family/friends who have that background, this hits home. Mr. Lynch was clearly not hesitant to go to some dark & realistic places. The Noose letter? Definitely more than just a story & it felt very real.
Full disclaimer:
Although there is military jargon & some stories do have that crude but ole faithful style of military life, it’s easy to pick up on what’s going on for those who don’t come from that background and most of the stories don’t even directly revolve around anything military. I definitely felt like that one space story was inspired by Alien or Dead Space easily!
You can definitely tell this book came from more than just personal experience. To anyone who has military experience or family/friends who have that background, this hits home. Mr. Lynch was clearly not hesitant to go to some dark & realistic places. The Noose letter? Definitely more than just a story & it felt very real.
Full disclaimer:
Although there is military jargon & some stories do have that crude but ole faithful style of military life, it’s easy to pick up on what’s going on for those who don’t come from that background and most of the stories don’t even directly revolve around anything military. I definitely felt like that one space story was inspired by Alien or Dead Space easily!
January 12, 2023
3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars - this was a mixed bag for me as it was my first ever foray into Extreme Horror/military splatterpunk and I think the stories that weren't for me will definitely be up other peoples' alleys!
Read it if:
You like military fiction, specifically Marine Corps context, culture and characters, from active service members to veterans dealing with associated mental health issues and trauma
You're okay with some pretty gnarly body horror in the form of amputation, castration, creature feature gore, monster attacks, war zones, and a good mix of sex and violence - I found that mix fairly enjoyable!
You enjoy being grossed out (I was getting some The Slob lite vibes from Cock-Meat Sandwich), but you also want the pay-off of a few laughs and a bonkers Christmas-themed gorefest (The Tree Farm), and some feisty femme fatales (Bow Saw, The Newly Weds)
You really like it when arseholes get theirs (I found The Newly Weds especially satisfying)
You want a bonus extract from The Warrior's Retreat included in this collection!
Read it if:
You like military fiction, specifically Marine Corps context, culture and characters, from active service members to veterans dealing with associated mental health issues and trauma
You're okay with some pretty gnarly body horror in the form of amputation, castration, creature feature gore, monster attacks, war zones, and a good mix of sex and violence - I found that mix fairly enjoyable!
You enjoy being grossed out (I was getting some The Slob lite vibes from Cock-Meat Sandwich), but you also want the pay-off of a few laughs and a bonkers Christmas-themed gorefest (The Tree Farm), and some feisty femme fatales (Bow Saw, The Newly Weds)
You really like it when arseholes get theirs (I found The Newly Weds especially satisfying)
You want a bonus extract from The Warrior's Retreat included in this collection!
February 19, 2023
John Lynch follows up his riotous debut with a collection of twelve stories to showcase his range. As with The Warrior Retreat, military horror plays a role, but does not overwhelm the story. Entries like "The Butcher of Bridgeport" and "The Hale Koa Incident" both fit into that wide label, though each is at home within other subgenres of horror. Lynch writes about camaraderie and relationships with an incisive eye and a brutal nature. Then there's "Cock-Meat Sandwich". Yeah.
Woe To Those Who Dwell on Earth is a debut batch of stories to be proud of, and yet it has the harmonic sensibilities of a prelude. Ladies and Gentlemen, John Lynch is just warming up.
Woe To Those Who Dwell on Earth is a debut batch of stories to be proud of, and yet it has the harmonic sensibilities of a prelude. Ladies and Gentlemen, John Lynch is just warming up.
June 6, 2023
I've mentioned before that I'm not a big fan of short stories. When I read a book of shorts, there's usually a few stories I just end up scanning quickly out of boredom. This was not that book. With page after page of non-stop horror, Woe To Those Who Dwell On Earth was full action, terror, and gore that'll keep you wanting more through every single page. There wasn't one story in John Lynchs collection of shorts that I did not enjoy. The entire book is a bloody mess of creativity.
June 19, 2023
I’ve enjoyed every single story in this book. I absolutely love the military aspect conveyed in the stories with the right amount of horror.
October 24, 2023
More, please!
I fell in love with this author’s work after reading the Warrior Retreat. Yes, that book did rattle my delicate senses, but I was thirsting for more and here we are. An instant buy that left me clutching my pearls... I am not ashamed.
Blood in the Sand and Hale Koa Incident were my favorites out of this book. They hit the same vein as Warrior’s Retreat, and I’m here for it. 💯 I enjoyed Stasis and Bow Saw as well, but they ventured into a different part of the horror genre. Still very good, but I did need a few days to heal and find my Zen before I could return to this level of darkness. Open the Window, Tommy and Noose didn’t have the same level of gore, but it left me shaken and stirred at the end. I may have had an out-of-body experience after reading these last two.
Cock-meat Sandwich was a whole other breed of horror, and I’m fairly sure I threw up in my mouth, choked on it, and threw up again while reading it. 10/10 do not recommend reading while eating. I’m undecided about the Newlyweds, but I did like how things ended, even if the level of gore was more than this delicate flower is accustomed to. 🌺
My only gripe is that I wish some of these were developed into actual full-blown novels. Aside from that, I felt this book was a real ride into the true depths of horror, with a few side adventures down alleyways I normally do not venture into. If you want to be shocked and appalled, and forced to question your life choices, look no further.
Update: I've removed the spoiler alerts because I can. 😇😇😇
I fell in love with this author’s work after reading the Warrior Retreat. Yes, that book did rattle my delicate senses, but I was thirsting for more and here we are. An instant buy that left me clutching my pearls... I am not ashamed.
Blood in the Sand and Hale Koa Incident were my favorites out of this book. They hit the same vein as Warrior’s Retreat, and I’m here for it. 💯 I enjoyed Stasis and Bow Saw as well, but they ventured into a different part of the horror genre. Still very good, but I did need a few days to heal and find my Zen before I could return to this level of darkness. Open the Window, Tommy and Noose didn’t have the same level of gore, but it left me shaken and stirred at the end. I may have had an out-of-body experience after reading these last two.
Cock-meat Sandwich was a whole other breed of horror, and I’m fairly sure I threw up in my mouth, choked on it, and threw up again while reading it. 10/10 do not recommend reading while eating. I’m undecided about the Newlyweds, but I did like how things ended, even if the level of gore was more than this delicate flower is accustomed to. 🌺
My only gripe is that I wish some of these were developed into actual full-blown novels. Aside from that, I felt this book was a real ride into the true depths of horror, with a few side adventures down alleyways I normally do not venture into. If you want to be shocked and appalled, and forced to question your life choices, look no further.
Update: I've removed the spoiler alerts because I can. 😇😇😇
July 11, 2023
This is a collection of interesting and scary short stories of many genres. The favorite setting seems to be in the military - several stories were set involving soldiers on their bases or in the field. These were the type of stories that at times legitimately scared me and horrified me - the mark of great horror stories. A lot of the stories had sci fi aspects to them, and personally that's where I felt the author shined best.
But if you're a man... be warned, there's some definite content in here I doubt they'll be thrilled to see, after all there's a story called "Cock Meat Sandwich".. which is exactly what you think it is.
I received a copy directly from the author.
But if you're a man... be warned, there's some definite content in here I doubt they'll be thrilled to see, after all there's a story called "Cock Meat Sandwich".. which is exactly what you think it is.
I received a copy directly from the author.
February 16, 2025
A solid collection
This had a variety of stories. Creature features, sci-fi horror, a vampire story, and even a deeply sad one. My favorite out of the collection was "Stasis," which was a sci-fi horror story.
This had a variety of stories. Creature features, sci-fi horror, a vampire story, and even a deeply sad one. My favorite out of the collection was "Stasis," which was a sci-fi horror story.
January 12, 2023
Thanks so much to John Lynch for sending me this short story collection to review. I really loved this. This collection is such a mixed bag of stories that there truly is something for everyone. Blood in the Sand gives us a military mission gone wrong when the team is isolated in an abandoned village with some unknown but deadly creatures. If you crave Sci-Fi with your horror, Stasis is a story with Alien vibes. Unknown terror strikes a team of space miners on their way home. They are supposed to be cryogenically frozen until they arrive home, but someone (or something) has awakened them early.
If you want some eco-horror, The Hale Koa Incident is about two Marines fighting for their lives against a huge ocean predator. And if you just want something absolutely disgusting, Cock-Meat Sandwich should do the trick. It's about...well, it's pretty much about what you think it is. These stories and more make for a super fun and entertaining collection. So entertaining that it's hard to pick a favorite. I loved Stasis because it was so reminiscent of Alien, sneaking around a spaceship hoping not to be found by the creature. And I really enjoyed the terror of The Hale Koa Incident because of the appreciation given to the surrounding area and nature. This one really had a lot of good things to say about treating the planet kindly and not burying our heads in the sand about climate change.
But my very favorite of the bunch is The Tree Farm. It was just so damn fun! A Marine duped into the middle of a huge Christmas tree farm thinking he was helping with a Toys 4 Tots program gets hunted and terrorized by a maniacal Santa, mutant elves and zombie reindeer. This one was a crazy horror comedy, and I absolutely loved it. I must also say that this would make a great prequal to a series that I would love to read about the adventures following this unbelievable ending.
Like I said, something for everyone. Creatures, creepy vibes, Sci-Fi, gross moments, Halloween fun, and a couple of twists that blew my mind. Definitely recommend for anyone!
If you want some eco-horror, The Hale Koa Incident is about two Marines fighting for their lives against a huge ocean predator. And if you just want something absolutely disgusting, Cock-Meat Sandwich should do the trick. It's about...well, it's pretty much about what you think it is. These stories and more make for a super fun and entertaining collection. So entertaining that it's hard to pick a favorite. I loved Stasis because it was so reminiscent of Alien, sneaking around a spaceship hoping not to be found by the creature. And I really enjoyed the terror of The Hale Koa Incident because of the appreciation given to the surrounding area and nature. This one really had a lot of good things to say about treating the planet kindly and not burying our heads in the sand about climate change.
But my very favorite of the bunch is The Tree Farm. It was just so damn fun! A Marine duped into the middle of a huge Christmas tree farm thinking he was helping with a Toys 4 Tots program gets hunted and terrorized by a maniacal Santa, mutant elves and zombie reindeer. This one was a crazy horror comedy, and I absolutely loved it. I must also say that this would make a great prequal to a series that I would love to read about the adventures following this unbelievable ending.
Like I said, something for everyone. Creatures, creepy vibes, Sci-Fi, gross moments, Halloween fun, and a couple of twists that blew my mind. Definitely recommend for anyone!
June 26, 2023
This short story collection is just the right amount of unsettling. The stories and characters are creative, and I was on the edge of my seat. The book’s characters are mainly military, but they’re still easy to follow for someone who’s not familiar with that world at all. The stories themselves were creepy and suspenseful. Any complaints I have are small.
Blood in the sand: the suspense was palpable. The author balanced the creature just right: enough information to be scary, but still left enough to the imagination.
The butcher of Bridgeport: Some of the phrases in this story were beautifully descriptive. I felt like I was there. It did make use of some writing cliches.
The tree farm: this story was hilarious. It did have some awkward dialogue.
Stasis: this story was very reminiscent of Alien. Again the descriptions of the creatures were grotesque (in a good way)
The hale koa incident: again, the suspense in this story is amazing. I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what was going to happen.
Cock-meat sandwich: All I have to say is “wtf”
Bow saw: this one really kept me guessing. It wasn’t too terribly surprising, but was a fun journey. I love the split perspectives in this one.
Noose: another one where I couldn’t wait to find out what was happening. A little predictable but told marvelously
Wing night: this story was good, but the most predictable of the bunch. It also had a repeated trope (waking up tied to a chair) that gets used a few times.
Open the window, tommy: had me yelling “Don’t do it!” at the end
The newlyweds: this story made me very uncomfortable (again, in a good way). You really root for the villain to be destroyed in this one.
Qrf up!: the shortest story. Almost too short to really get into.
All in all, I’d definitely recommend this book to someone who wants to be just creeped out just enough. A very enjoyable read.
Blood in the sand: the suspense was palpable. The author balanced the creature just right: enough information to be scary, but still left enough to the imagination.
The butcher of Bridgeport: Some of the phrases in this story were beautifully descriptive. I felt like I was there. It did make use of some writing cliches.
The tree farm: this story was hilarious. It did have some awkward dialogue.
Stasis: this story was very reminiscent of Alien. Again the descriptions of the creatures were grotesque (in a good way)
The hale koa incident: again, the suspense in this story is amazing. I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what was going to happen.
Cock-meat sandwich: All I have to say is “wtf”
Bow saw: this one really kept me guessing. It wasn’t too terribly surprising, but was a fun journey. I love the split perspectives in this one.
Noose: another one where I couldn’t wait to find out what was happening. A little predictable but told marvelously
Wing night: this story was good, but the most predictable of the bunch. It also had a repeated trope (waking up tied to a chair) that gets used a few times.
Open the window, tommy: had me yelling “Don’t do it!” at the end
The newlyweds: this story made me very uncomfortable (again, in a good way). You really root for the villain to be destroyed in this one.
Qrf up!: the shortest story. Almost too short to really get into.
All in all, I’d definitely recommend this book to someone who wants to be just creeped out just enough. A very enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2023
If you like anything creepy, weird and that makes you think "wtf have I just read" then this is for you! Lots of short stories but easy to read.. got through it in a day because I just couldn't wait to see how weird the next story was going to be!
January 12, 2023
Thank You John Lynch for letting me read you story and for your sacrifice as a Military Veteran. This book is not for children.
His horror stories blend War, Extreme Horror and a lot of Twists.
Loved the Cover Art of this Book. This book is a collection of 11 Short Extreme Horror Stories. The Three stories I enjoyed the Most were The Christmas Tree Farm, Wing Night, and the Noose.
His horror stories blend War, Extreme Horror and a lot of Twists.
Loved the Cover Art of this Book. This book is a collection of 11 Short Extreme Horror Stories. The Three stories I enjoyed the Most were The Christmas Tree Farm, Wing Night, and the Noose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2023
Review coming soon...
February 18, 2023
Great short stories
After reading The warriors retreat I was looking forward to more from John and I wasn't disappointed. Another 5 star read for me
After reading The warriors retreat I was looking forward to more from John and I wasn't disappointed. Another 5 star read for me
February 27, 2023
A group of short stories put together in a great collection. Most were Marine Corps related. My favorite was The Hale Koa Incident.
March 6, 2023
Has something for everyone. And I mean that almost literally, from military based to…. Ummm…. How should I say… cannibalistic neighborhood barbecues? Take you pick! Haha
March 6, 2023
Absolutely loved it. I’m not normally a huge fan of military-based work, but this collection of stories sucked me in I til I had finished it.
August 11, 2023
Great short stories! More to come!
January 7, 2023
*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. I got the opportunity to read this collection of short stories early (Thank you, John!) and I'm so glad I did! I recently finished John's debut novel 'The Warrior Retreat' and loved it, so when I was asked if I'd like to read more of his work the answer was a resounding YES!
2. John is a Marine Corp vet so he does write some military horror, but this collection is so much more than that - the breadth of subject matter is fantastic, in fact, there's even a Christmas horror short in which John proves he can write dark humor into his horror. Honestly though, there's something for everyone. Some of the stories are just plain evil and gory and some are more traditional horror. I love a variety so I appreciated the switch up.
3. My favorites would be:
'The Newlyweds' - I love a good revenge plot especially when it gets messy.
'Cock-meat Sandwich' - This one was just gross on multiple levels and that's totally my thing.
'Noose' - This is one of the more traditional horror stories in the collection and also one of the more emotional stories in the collection. I love when horror meets pain.
'Blood In The Sand' - This would be a good movie premise. Maybe it already is and it's just not the kind of movie I usually watch, but if someone said this is based on John Lynch's 'Blood In The Sand', I'd watch that shit. :)
1. I got the opportunity to read this collection of short stories early (Thank you, John!) and I'm so glad I did! I recently finished John's debut novel 'The Warrior Retreat' and loved it, so when I was asked if I'd like to read more of his work the answer was a resounding YES!
2. John is a Marine Corp vet so he does write some military horror, but this collection is so much more than that - the breadth of subject matter is fantastic, in fact, there's even a Christmas horror short in which John proves he can write dark humor into his horror. Honestly though, there's something for everyone. Some of the stories are just plain evil and gory and some are more traditional horror. I love a variety so I appreciated the switch up.
3. My favorites would be:
'The Newlyweds' - I love a good revenge plot especially when it gets messy.
'Cock-meat Sandwich' - This one was just gross on multiple levels and that's totally my thing.
'Noose' - This is one of the more traditional horror stories in the collection and also one of the more emotional stories in the collection. I love when horror meets pain.
'Blood In The Sand' - This would be a good movie premise. Maybe it already is and it's just not the kind of movie I usually watch, but if someone said this is based on John Lynch's 'Blood In The Sand', I'd watch that shit. :)
October 23, 2023
Military horror and more
Lynch has dug himself a nice little niche here with military horror. He has a strong consistent voice and writes about some truly horrific subject matter. Gory, violent, and often times gross it has something for everyone. There's the military stories here, but also space horror, creature features, and then there's Cock-meat Sandwich. Its a collection written by a horror fan for horror fans. Strongly recommended.
Lynch has dug himself a nice little niche here with military horror. He has a strong consistent voice and writes about some truly horrific subject matter. Gory, violent, and often times gross it has something for everyone. There's the military stories here, but also space horror, creature features, and then there's Cock-meat Sandwich. Its a collection written by a horror fan for horror fans. Strongly recommended.
January 12, 2023
Another outstanding effort from John Lynch! This collection should have something to please everyone. It contains some excellent creature features and plenty of human monsters, too. Mr. Lynch's sophomore book has confirmed that he is certainly an author to watch and that I will definitely be buying his future titles.
Merged review:
Another outstanding effort from John Lynch! This collection should have something to please everyone. It contains some excellent creature features and plenty of human monsters, too. Mr. Lynch's sophomore book has confirmed that he is certainly an author to watch and that I will definitely be buying his future titles.
Merged review:
Another outstanding effort from John Lynch! This collection should have something to please everyone. It contains some excellent creature features and plenty of human monsters, too. Mr. Lynch's sophomore book has confirmed that he is certainly an author to watch and that I will definitely be buying his future titles.
September 11, 2023
I listened to this and liked it overall! The only reason I’m giving it four stars is because I realized I’m not into the military based stories, but I know lots of people will enjoy that! They were still fun to listen to; I just have zero background or knowledge of that environment. I do appreciate the authors knowledge of the subject! I loved the variety of story types. Gross, gore, creature-feature, etc.
July 19, 2023
John Lynch has written thirteen short stories for our enjoyment. They range from a creature feature to the evil of humans. I enjoyed all of these stories.
Blood in the Sand. Some kind of lethal creature is taking out entire units of marines. Full of gore and adrenalin. Amazing start to the book.
The Butcher of Bridgeport. Caverly is a marine on a training mission when his whole unit is killed. Another gore-action packed story. You can definitely tell Lynch is a marine!
The Tree Farm. Pitts is volunteering at a tree farm during Christmas. This story is still with me. An eerie delight!
Stasis. Lynn is awoken from stasis five years too early. I love outer space horror stories and this one was awesome. I’d like to see this as a full length novel, or at least a novella.
The Hale Koa Incident. A couple of marines decide to go do some snorkeling and stumble upon some trouble. Deep water horror!
Cok-meat Sandwich. A terrible neighbor story. A cringe-worthy story. Oh my, men need to be prepared for this one!
Bow Saw. Awesome story about a female serial killer. There aren’t enough stories like this, so this was nice to add.
Noose. A husband is having a really bad day. One thing after another keeps happening. I feel bad for the husband. Good story.
Wing Night. Patrick is living with a friend and stays at their house while the family goes on a vacation. Another intense story!
Open The Window, Tommy. Two brothers are out trick or treating when they stumble upon a scene that is unbelievable. This is an amazing story, one of my favorites.
The Newlyweds. A honeymoon that has gone all wrong, backfiring on the husband. Certainly different from the rest of the stories, but I liked it quite a lot.
An Excerpt from “The Warrior Retreat.” I am definitely picking up this story next. This is a quick excerpt with Ray.
Qrf Up! A marine is having flashbacks. A good story to go out with a bang!
Lynch’s writing style is direct, but in such a way that it will have you will easily feel the emotions of the characters in his stories. I can see why his other book, Warrior Retreat, is a hit. I look forward to reading that one. If you have read that one, you should grab this quick collection of stories. If you have not read Warrior Retreat, this is a great way to be introduced to John Lynch.
Blood in the Sand. Some kind of lethal creature is taking out entire units of marines. Full of gore and adrenalin. Amazing start to the book.
The Butcher of Bridgeport. Caverly is a marine on a training mission when his whole unit is killed. Another gore-action packed story. You can definitely tell Lynch is a marine!
The Tree Farm. Pitts is volunteering at a tree farm during Christmas. This story is still with me. An eerie delight!
Stasis. Lynn is awoken from stasis five years too early. I love outer space horror stories and this one was awesome. I’d like to see this as a full length novel, or at least a novella.
The Hale Koa Incident. A couple of marines decide to go do some snorkeling and stumble upon some trouble. Deep water horror!
Cok-meat Sandwich. A terrible neighbor story. A cringe-worthy story. Oh my, men need to be prepared for this one!
Bow Saw. Awesome story about a female serial killer. There aren’t enough stories like this, so this was nice to add.
Noose. A husband is having a really bad day. One thing after another keeps happening. I feel bad for the husband. Good story.
Wing Night. Patrick is living with a friend and stays at their house while the family goes on a vacation. Another intense story!
Open The Window, Tommy. Two brothers are out trick or treating when they stumble upon a scene that is unbelievable. This is an amazing story, one of my favorites.
The Newlyweds. A honeymoon that has gone all wrong, backfiring on the husband. Certainly different from the rest of the stories, but I liked it quite a lot.
An Excerpt from “The Warrior Retreat.” I am definitely picking up this story next. This is a quick excerpt with Ray.
Qrf Up! A marine is having flashbacks. A good story to go out with a bang!
Lynch’s writing style is direct, but in such a way that it will have you will easily feel the emotions of the characters in his stories. I can see why his other book, Warrior Retreat, is a hit. I look forward to reading that one. If you have read that one, you should grab this quick collection of stories. If you have not read Warrior Retreat, this is a great way to be introduced to John Lynch.
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