This Is How He Collects Them

by Eric Woods

Beware the Darkness
A series of haunting nightmares draws five former residents of a New York City high-rise back to their one-time home. But this is not a reunion. These five strangers have never met. But they are connected. The depressed photographer with telekinetic abilities… the paralegal who reads evil thoughts of strangers… the struggling author who can predict dark futures… the malicious hypnotist… the witch’s daughter…
They have met in their dreams, and they have observed the shadows who follow them until they awaken. Now they want answers. And when the five board the same elevator at the same time, an ominous reality surfaces. They did not return on their own. They were drawn back. Drawn by their nightmares. Drawn by darkness.
Drawn… to be collected.

Genres: Horror

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2023

About the author

Eric Woods reluctantly resides in Springfield, Illinois and has been writing since grade school. He has published seven novels, two novellas, one book of stage plays, and several short stories.

He mostly writes scary stories, although his debut novel (Pummeled) and it’s 2021 sequel (Pummeled: Submission) are more action/drama. His middle three novels Dragon’s Blood (2019), Welcome to Oblivion (2020), and Clippings (2021) are all in the horror genre. In 2022 he published the novella, “The Man on the Roof at Midnight,” and in 2023, he published This Is How He Collects Them.His most recent work includes the first two books in the STOKEBRIDGE trilogy (2024), and HELL'S DINER: 13 Devilish Delectables in June 2025 along with debut author Kerri Jane.

Eric has been a local freelance writer since 2005, writing for such outlets as Springfield Business Journal Illinois and SO Magazine. He served as a tour guide for the Lincoln Ghost Walk in Springfield and was a collegiate speech and debate coach for seven years. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in English and a Master's Degree in Communication from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Reviews

[Kristin Sledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 strangers are drawn to a high rise which just so happens to be their former place of residence. What has drawn them all together and why them?

2.5 stars rounded to 3. This one just had so much potential, but the story was laid out all wrong. Flashbacks took you away from the main story so much you forgot even what was happening in "the now". This should have been laid out over multiple books in order to establish a world and the people/things in it. It was very disorienting, and after the first half I found myself having a hard time caring. To be completely honest, I'm not even sure how it ended...even though I read the last few chapters twice. The writing was well thought out, compared to other independently published books and I like think if the author got a shot with the big time publishers that he would be able to flourish under their guidance.

It's hard to recommend this, especially to horror lovers. For being horror it lacked just that. Not enough gore, the intimidating presence wasn't imposing at all, and the characters were hard to like. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Thebookcrackingremlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little underwhelmed with this one.

It felt like more backstory than story and almost felt choppy.

While I thought the over all idea was fantastic and super creepy this writers style may not be for me

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me guessing from the very beginning. The pace was reasonable , the clues were not obvious , the characters were well thought out

[Carlos E. Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing supernatural mystery

Five unrelated people with some kind of strange ability return to the building they used to inhabit at some point in their lives. What they don't know is they're expected by a mysterious person who's after each of them.
I love the way this story plays with each of the characters backstories and finds a way to relate them to the history of the Amalgam (the building they're meeting in), It feels like I jigsaw puzzle being put together from the edges in. The backstories of each of the characters, and even of the antagonists are very interesting and ultimately each has a part to play.
Very recommended.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I really enjoyed this! I loved the way it was laid out, little, interconnected stories. The characters are flawed, but I still liked them.

I'd love to read more in this world.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank This is an awesome story about an apartment building people who live or used to live there in their dreams and imagining that bring them back it mainly focuses on Tyson, Keegan, Harrison, Adia, clay, Eva and violet. Are they having a mass hallucination a shared dream or or they hypnotized you’ll have to read the book to find out no matter how many ways I try to think to do a summary there’s no way I could do this book justice it is an awesome original… Let me reiterate very original horror story! In a world where anyone can write a book and put it on Amazon it is hard to come up with something original but I do think that is what the author of This Is How He Collects them has done. What more can I say this is a great book and one I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend. I want to thank The publisher and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Summer R Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Eric Woods and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

This book was definitely a strange one. It's in my top ten for sure. I'll admit that when I first started reading, I was confused and had no idea where it was going, but I'm glad I kept on reading. This was a good read and certainly is not like other books I've read. The ending isn't exactly satisfying, but it doesn't leave you angry. It does leave you wondering if there is going to be more later on.

There are five very different individuals coming together to the same building. They each have different abilities, abilities they somthing very much desires to collect. An evil so old that wishes to escape and continue to cause pain and suffering as it collects more and more to become all powerful. These five people are all that stand in its way from escaping. Can they stop it, or will they only aid in its freedom?

If not for the confusion at the beginning and the ending of the book, I'd have enjoyed this a lot more. But not every book is going to have a happy ending. That's just how it works.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

With great power comes great evil or at least in Eric Woods' novel "This is How He Collects Them." In a one-hundred-year-old apartment, five strangers embark on a desperate mission to save themselves from a foul ancient demon-like creature. By stealing the unique powers of each individual, this creature will ultimately bring darkness to the world. The setting of this novel is distinctive as the action mostly takes place in the apartment building itself. The novel is relatively fast-paced and definitely keeps your interest. I do feel as if Woods didn't know exactly know where or how to end it. There were several instances where I thought the conclusion was imminent but continued on another tangent. Even Woods explained that it really didn't end and there may be a sequel. I think this next book would clear-up some of the plot holes. The novel also does not have one main protagonist, but a combination of many. Normally this is problematic, but Woods handles it well enough. But while you become familiar with each character, I still feel that a profound connection is not made.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really terrifying book. I cannot imagine being summoned and then finding out the reason. This is a book for reading with the light on. I like feeling scared and this book did the trick.

[Kristy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

supernatural horror

This is a nice mix of It, The Shining, and Dr. Sleep. If you like Stephen King, you’ll like this book.

[Jess Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

-⭐️⭐️⭐️-

Synopsis: A series of haunting nightmares draws five former residents of a New York City high-rise back to their one-time home. But this is not a reunion. These five strangers have never met. But they are connected. The depressed photographer with telekinetic abilities ... the paralegal who reads evil thoughts of strangers ... the struggling author who can predict dark futures ... the malicious hypnotist ... the witch's daughter ... They have met in their dreams, and they have observed the shadows who follow them until they awaken. Now they want answers. And when the five board the same elevator at the same time, an ominous reality surfaces. They did not return on their own. They were drawn back. Drawn by their nightmares. Drawn by darkness. Drawn ... to be collected.

This book had great potential but was hard to keep me engaged and to follow. The beginning was a bit confusing and it had good parts to it but I felt like it was too long and dragged on. I loved the plot and the last couple chapters were the best part of the book. 3 star rating from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Eric Woods for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexis Crotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off by telling you now, be prepared to want more. I went in to this thinking it was a straight standalone and found out at the end that the Amalgam's story is not over yet. This was not a super scary horror read for me, but I liked the whole idea of this being collecting powers and feeding on a persons internal darkness as well. I thought these things added a nice distinctness to each of the characters with their different abilities and past traumas and made them relatable. I also loved the use of dreamscapes and visions throughout that make you question what was real right alongside the characters. I will absolutely continue this story whenever that may be.

[Alicia B.A.]

I received this book through Netgalley and voluntarily provided my honest feedback.
This book had a lot of potential, but at times, I found it confusing. There are a lot of characters, and there is a back and forth of information that would confuse me. I feel like it should have focused on one or two characters, and if it didn't do a lot of back and forth, I feel that the book would have flowed better. While this book wasn't for me, I feel that others may like this writing style and mystery may enjoy it better.

[Gab]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book is enticing - five strangers are brought back to a haunt from their past. Unfortunately, the writing was a bit choppy and felt uneven. While I wanted to like the characters and the story given, it was hard to when it didn't seem to flow entirely. It also seemed like pieces were missing.

This isn't a bad book by any means, it's just possible this author's writing style isn't for me.

[Lacie]

I was intrigued by the synopsis for this book, and hopeful that it would be a good spooky season read. Unfortunately, for me, it fell flat and I did make the choice to DNF it. :/ The execution of what I was able to push myself through left me feeling underwhelmed, confused, and just meh.

Just because I didn't connect with it doesn't mean I won't still recommend it to others if I feel like they would enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for this ARC copy!

I was not a huge fan of this book. It was hard to follow a lot of the time and I was struggling to connect with the characters and story. I saw another review that stated there was simultaneously a lot going on and nothing at the same time and I completely agree with that.

[Dario Pacheco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stopped at 75%. This book had an interesting premise and reminded me of the movie Devil. But I just couldn’t stay focused on these fairly flat characters and the storyline that confused me a lot. I honestly feel like if it’s was maybe given 100 or more pages of our world building. It would’ve been a solid book.
I recommend this book? Not really. But if it interests you, it’s on Kindle unlimited

[Juliet Mendoza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! This wasn't my cup of tea. I couldn't connect to any of the characters and the story simultaneously seemed rushed and immobile. The blurb intrigued me but, didn't hit the mark.

[Sara Mcfadden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Eric Woods and NetGalley for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is available October 13,2023!

This is a supernatural horror of 5 strangers in NYC high rise. It was properly creepy fun read but at times it lagged. I enjoyed it and I recommend it

[B · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly wanted to like this, but I was very underwhelmed and found it undenjoyable. Some of it was very busy while other spots were very stale and choppy.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me. The writing style was a bit choppy and all over the place, and I couldn't really get into the book. The idea is intriguing, but the execution fell flat. I made it about 25% before I had to give up. Sorry. :(

[Eric Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews this book. I posted a blog simply entitled “Why I Wrote This” over at ericwoodsauthor.com in case you were curious as to where this idea originated and how it came to pass.

[Priscila Vera Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is interesting but I feel I expected more because of that. I enjoyed reading this book but I needed more. I need a sequel to know how things really ended. What I hate the most was the ending, but that's me needing things to have a proper closure.

[Lee Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like it needed a few more drafts and possibly a developmental editor to address the choppy pacing, cardboard characters and lack of any real horror/threat.

[Nadine Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏢

🌟฿ØØ₭ ⱤɆVłɆ₩🌟

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 by 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴

5 strangers, haunting nightmares, unique powers. An apartment from their past connects them all.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

I really enjoyed beta reading this book. Other than a few notes about maybe one too many characters for me to distinguish between and keep track of I had very little other feedback.

"𝙰 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝚈𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑-𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎-𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚝. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍.𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 … 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 … 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 … 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚑𝚢𝚙𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚝 … 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑’𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 …

𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜… 𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚗 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔. 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚜. 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚗 … 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍"

While reading this I pictured the New York apartment building from the tv show 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨. An old classic apartment building with rich architecture, steeped in history. I enjoyed the psychological and occult elements. The story was fast paced and left me wanting more. This was my first time reading anything by Woods and I look forward to reading his other books.

[Alyssa Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading this I did not expect to come across somewhat of a paranormal retelling of H.H. Holmes’ murder castle.

I think there was a lot of potential here, but the execution was just not there. The writing was remedial to me. The plot felt like a fucked-up hamster wheel.

You know those montages of Scooby Doo and the gang running from a monster, but then they are chasing the monster, and then they become the monster and there’s a cheeky song reminiscent of The Beach Boys playing the whole time? That’s what this reminds me of.

In one sense there was too much going on. In another, nothing really happens.

The author states in his epilogue he may revisit the ending later and add on to it. I think had he chosen to do that instead of ending it with a “WTF was that” sense, I’d be rating it a lot higher.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[W Hearsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel, I thought it was original and unique. Five people are drawn back to the Amalgam, a building they all used to live in. Although, they don't know each other, all five have met each other via their nightmares. Each of them has a special gift and the darkness calling out to them to return to their former home, wants to consume them. Adding their gifts to it's own, so it can grow ever more powerful. A great read, but there is no conclusion, no ending to the story, which was a shame. The Author explaining, the story will continue in a short story, novella, or a second book. I am interested to know how this story ends.