Scan barcode
A review by saareman
Don't Read This Book After Dark Vol. 3 by Jude Mire, Bridget Eilis, Alice J. Taylor, Alice J. Taylor
4.0
At Least Leave the Lights On
Review of the Kindle eBook edition (May 7, 2024).
A terrific anthology of horror and fantasy with several Canadian authors included. The 5-stars for me were more historical fiction related, adding that additional element to the standard shocks and chills. Full disclosure: I am GR Friends with the author of #2 Berengaria Di Rossi, although I think even with a blind read I would have still given Corn Worm a high rating.
The following summaries provide story setups without reveals or spoilers so I have not spoiler blocked them. Additional links have been listed for those authors who provided website addresses in their bios or for whom I have the information.
[3.5 average rating for the 19 stories, rounded up to a GR 4]
1. Hot Dog Man **** by [a:Jude Mire|22411590|Jude Mire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1668452108p2/22411590.jpg] (CAN). A homeless man can tell the future as long as he is fed a hot dog. One person gets too curious about how it is done. Read further about Jude Mire at https://judemire.ca
2. Corn Worm ***** by [a:Berengaria Di Rossi|22206763|Berengaria Di Rossi|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (GER) Set in 1640, conquistadors in South America are received as gods by an indigenous tribe who worship a Corn Goddess. Berengaria Di Rossi has one novella listed on Goodreads at [b:Distantly Falling Stars|60311549|Distantly Falling Stars|Berengaria Di Rossi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1721676521l/60311549._SY75_.jpg|95082140] which you can read for free on Wattpad along with other works at https://www.wattpad.com/user/Di_Rossi. You don't necessarily have to join Wattpad in order to read free works.
3. Succubus *** by [a:Alice J. Taylor|20221031|Alice J. Taylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1628128130p2/20221031.jpg] (CAN). A murderous female psychopath draws an unwitting lawyer under her spell. Alice J. Taylor is the penname of author / editor / publisher Emily S. Hurricane and you can read further at www.emilyshurricane.com
4. Marshmallows *** by [a:Dee Rasha|21944730|Dee Rasha|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1637683536p2/21944730.jpg] (CZ). A woman comes home to find a stranger asleep on the couch and her roommate apparently asleep in her bed.
5. Lumberers ** by Jude Mire (CAN). Drugged up squatters are attacked by group of drugged up vigilantes armed with wooden sticks.
6. Parted **** by [a:Joey Huff|49110622|Joey Huff|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (USA). A doctor who is suffering from a seemingly incurable disease is suddenly revitalized by a new method of cure, until he discovers its diabolical source.
7. Monster *** by [a:Bridget Eilis|20221030|Bridget Eilis|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (CAN ). A twist on the old ‘monster under the bed’ story. Bridget Eilis is the penname of Emerald Baynton and you can read further at www.emeraldscreations.org
8. Apartment 2A *** by [a:Paola F. Caravasso|49110624|Paola F. Caravasso|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (VNZ). A man tries to escape his dead wife but to no avail.
9. Zoom **** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). A man experiences hallucinations about cars and colours.
10. Regarding Security *** by Jude Mire (CAN). While clearing the area before a meeting of crime cartels, a dog sniffs out a suspicious manhole.
11. The Book ** by Paola F. Caravasso (VNZ). A writer has a fateful encounter with an enchanted black book.
12. Eater of Dread ***** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). A woman is sent into the forest to discover why the men of her tribe never return from there.
13. Room 696 *** by Paola F. Caravasso (VNZ). A maintenance worker encounters a haunted room in a student dormitory.
14. Into The Dark ** by [a:Richard Simonds|12108463|Richard Simonds|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (USA). A fantasy about writing.
15. The Oubliette ***** by [a:Elaine March|49110623|Elaine March|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (USA). The Lady of Longsdale Castle is having ancient corpses removed from a newly discovered secret dungeon.
16. Margaret Street **** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). Someone is stuck inside a sort of ‘Bermuda Triangle’ on a city street.
17. Paralysis **** by Paola F. Caravasso (VNZ). A haunted house claims its victims through a dream paralysis.
18. Milk and Cookies *** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). A very different kind of Santa makes an appearance at a house where the family cat is missing.
19. Squishfoot Dummy **** by Jude Mire (CAN). Two men who are out catching nightcrawlers for use as fishing bait encounter a different kind of worm.
Statistics
For my month end and year end statistics this book will be counted as Canadian
Review of the Kindle eBook edition (May 7, 2024).
A terrific anthology of horror and fantasy with several Canadian authors included. The 5-stars for me were more historical fiction related, adding that additional element to the standard shocks and chills. Full disclosure: I am GR Friends with the author of #2 Berengaria Di Rossi, although I think even with a blind read I would have still given Corn Worm a high rating.
The following summaries provide story setups without reveals or spoilers so I have not spoiler blocked them. Additional links have been listed for those authors who provided website addresses in their bios or for whom I have the information.
[3.5 average rating for the 19 stories, rounded up to a GR 4]
1. Hot Dog Man **** by [a:Jude Mire|22411590|Jude Mire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1668452108p2/22411590.jpg] (CAN). A homeless man can tell the future as long as he is fed a hot dog. One person gets too curious about how it is done. Read further about Jude Mire at https://judemire.ca
2. Corn Worm ***** by [a:Berengaria Di Rossi|22206763|Berengaria Di Rossi|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (GER) Set in 1640, conquistadors in South America are received as gods by an indigenous tribe who worship a Corn Goddess. Berengaria Di Rossi has one novella listed on Goodreads at [b:Distantly Falling Stars|60311549|Distantly Falling Stars|Berengaria Di Rossi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1721676521l/60311549._SY75_.jpg|95082140] which you can read for free on Wattpad along with other works at https://www.wattpad.com/user/Di_Rossi. You don't necessarily have to join Wattpad in order to read free works.
3. Succubus *** by [a:Alice J. Taylor|20221031|Alice J. Taylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1628128130p2/20221031.jpg] (CAN). A murderous female psychopath draws an unwitting lawyer under her spell. Alice J. Taylor is the penname of author / editor / publisher Emily S. Hurricane and you can read further at www.emilyshurricane.com
4. Marshmallows *** by [a:Dee Rasha|21944730|Dee Rasha|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1637683536p2/21944730.jpg] (CZ). A woman comes home to find a stranger asleep on the couch and her roommate apparently asleep in her bed.
5. Lumberers ** by Jude Mire (CAN). Drugged up squatters are attacked by group of drugged up vigilantes armed with wooden sticks.
6. Parted **** by [a:Joey Huff|49110622|Joey Huff|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (USA). A doctor who is suffering from a seemingly incurable disease is suddenly revitalized by a new method of cure, until he discovers its diabolical source.
7. Monster *** by [a:Bridget Eilis|20221030|Bridget Eilis|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (CAN ). A twist on the old ‘monster under the bed’ story. Bridget Eilis is the penname of Emerald Baynton and you can read further at www.emeraldscreations.org
8. Apartment 2A *** by [a:Paola F. Caravasso|49110624|Paola F. Caravasso|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (VNZ). A man tries to escape his dead wife but to no avail.
9. Zoom **** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). A man experiences hallucinations about cars and colours.
10. Regarding Security *** by Jude Mire (CAN). While clearing the area before a meeting of crime cartels, a dog sniffs out a suspicious manhole.
11. The Book ** by Paola F. Caravasso (VNZ). A writer has a fateful encounter with an enchanted black book.
12. Eater of Dread ***** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). A woman is sent into the forest to discover why the men of her tribe never return from there.
13. Room 696 *** by Paola F. Caravasso (VNZ). A maintenance worker encounters a haunted room in a student dormitory.
14. Into The Dark ** by [a:Richard Simonds|12108463|Richard Simonds|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (USA). A fantasy about writing.
15. The Oubliette ***** by [a:Elaine March|49110623|Elaine March|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (USA). The Lady of Longsdale Castle is having ancient corpses removed from a newly discovered secret dungeon.
16. Margaret Street **** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). Someone is stuck inside a sort of ‘Bermuda Triangle’ on a city street.
17. Paralysis **** by Paola F. Caravasso (VNZ). A haunted house claims its victims through a dream paralysis.
18. Milk and Cookies *** by Alice J. Taylor (CAN). A very different kind of Santa makes an appearance at a house where the family cat is missing.
19. Squishfoot Dummy **** by Jude Mire (CAN). Two men who are out catching nightcrawlers for use as fishing bait encounter a different kind of worm.
Statistics
For my month end and year end statistics this book will be counted as Canadian