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Call Us If You Get Possessed
“The office was a protected area, but it was impossible to cover every attack surface. Sometimes the phenomenon can spread from the caller, through the wires, radio waves, and cell towers, straight to the other side of the phone call.”
During an unfortunate way home, Samantha becomes a witness to something she should have never seen. Now, she has no choice but to take a job at a call center that helps people with paranormal problems—or at least, tries to.
After failing to handle a particularly unsettling call, Samantha discovers that whatever was haunting her caller has now latched onto her. She's in grave danger and all alone in this mess.
During an unfortunate way home, Samantha becomes a witness to something she should have never seen. Now, she has no choice but to take a job at a call center that helps people with paranormal problems—or at least, tries to.
After failing to handle a particularly unsettling call, Samantha discovers that whatever was haunting her caller has now latched onto her. She's in grave danger and all alone in this mess.
128 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2024
5 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Chris Burton
18 books11 followersChris Burton is a Hungarian fiction author living in Budapest, specialising in short stories, novellas, and grammatical mistakes.
Drawn to dark tales from a young age, Chris began publishing his unsolicited creations in 2024, blending elements of horror, thriller, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, weird fiction and grotesque, sometimes with traces of dark humour.
In everyday life, Chris works in the field of [REDACTED], has chronic insomnia, and experiences intrusive thoughts more frequently than what is considered a healthy amount by healthcare professionals. In his spare time, he runs his own horror-inspired alternative rock music project but respectfully refuses to share any other specific details.
Drawn to dark tales from a young age, Chris began publishing his unsolicited creations in 2024, blending elements of horror, thriller, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, weird fiction and grotesque, sometimes with traces of dark humour.
In everyday life, Chris works in the field of [REDACTED], has chronic insomnia, and experiences intrusive thoughts more frequently than what is considered a healthy amount by healthcare professionals. In his spare time, he runs his own horror-inspired alternative rock music project but respectfully refuses to share any other specific details.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Such a fun ride! Think creepy demons meets wisecracking, done-with-this-shit paranormal investigators.
It balances funny and spooky really well, the dialogue and tone of voice are great, and the characters actually feel like the sort of people you'd want on your side when some supernatural craziness shows up at your door
Such a fun ride! Think creepy demons meets wisecracking, done-with-this-shit paranormal investigators.
It balances funny and spooky really well, the dialogue and tone of voice are great, and the characters actually feel like the sort of people you'd want on your side when some supernatural craziness shows up at your door
November 2, 2025
Thank you so much to Chris for giving me a copy to review!
3.74 but rounded up to 4!
the way this started was fantastic! loved it and was excited to see where it would go. The idea of a call centre for the Paranormal in general is a fantastic idea. Reading some of the things Sam would say about the calls she would get were funny and entertaining. some points I felt like I wanted just a little bit of more horror/ghostly happenings but you kind of get one heck of a scene towards the end thst surprised me tbh
3.74 but rounded up to 4!
the way this started was fantastic! loved it and was excited to see where it would go. The idea of a call centre for the Paranormal in general is a fantastic idea. Reading some of the things Sam would say about the calls she would get were funny and entertaining. some points I felt like I wanted just a little bit of more horror/ghostly happenings but you kind of get one heck of a scene towards the end thst surprised me tbh
January 18, 2026
ARC REVIEW
This book was a real weirdo, and I mean that in the best possible way. I was laughing out loud and muttering 'WTF' like a crazy person. I've never seen a customer service hotline like this before - it was a wild ride. Okay, there were some slow bits, but overall it was hilarious and good.
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a wild concept and execution.
Love it. Very funny and a great palette cleanser for this die hard horror fan.
Well written, easy to read. The overall story line is not always straight forward but curves slightly but brings you right back without getting you lost.
The extra details just made the story something more.
The end is well I'm still trying to work out if I like it or it possibly annoyed me as I want more, I didn't want to end at all. It's one of those you either love it or hate its type of endings.
This is a mixed media style of books. In this case just text from different sources. It gives extra information thrown in on the sides, referencing back to previous pages to give more information to aspects touched within the story if you're interested.
Overall without giving any spoilers this book is paranormal themed, a little bit of horror thrown in, a little bit of death, some mysterious happenings wrapped up in its own mystery following a woman at a call centre.
I did receive this book as an ARC from the publisher and author and I am very thankful for the opportunity.
With saying that, I do not take on any book that is not something that I would not personally read, buy from a bookstore or read in a book club.
Life is too short to read books that are not your type of coffee.
Also hopefully no one sees that capybara again, anytime soon.
1 star for being funny like it claims.
1 star for being easy to read without being overly simplistic.
1 star for being unique in style and concept.
half a star for being easy to follow the main story.
half a star for not being predictable .
half a star for having likeable character
and last
half a star for going the extra for all the extra details added in.
can't wait to see what else Chris comes up with next.
Love it. Very funny and a great palette cleanser for this die hard horror fan.
Well written, easy to read. The overall story line is not always straight forward but curves slightly but brings you right back without getting you lost.
The extra details just made the story something more.
The end is well I'm still trying to work out if I like it or it possibly annoyed me as I want more, I didn't want to end at all. It's one of those you either love it or hate its type of endings.
This is a mixed media style of books. In this case just text from different sources. It gives extra information thrown in on the sides, referencing back to previous pages to give more information to aspects touched within the story if you're interested.
Overall without giving any spoilers this book is paranormal themed, a little bit of horror thrown in, a little bit of death, some mysterious happenings wrapped up in its own mystery following a woman at a call centre.
I did receive this book as an ARC from the publisher and author and I am very thankful for the opportunity.
With saying that, I do not take on any book that is not something that I would not personally read, buy from a bookstore or read in a book club.
Life is too short to read books that are not your type of coffee.
Also hopefully no one sees that capybara again, anytime soon.
1 star for being funny like it claims.
1 star for being easy to read without being overly simplistic.
1 star for being unique in style and concept.
half a star for being easy to follow the main story.
half a star for not being predictable .
half a star for having likeable character
and last
half a star for going the extra for all the extra details added in.
can't wait to see what else Chris comes up with next.
Review of advance copy
ARC Review: Call Us If You Get Possessed
This is customer service from hell, literally, and I mean that as a compliment.
Darkly funny, deeply unsettling, and far more emotionally exhausting than it first appears, Call Us If You Get Possessed takes the familiar misery of call-centre work and fuses it with demonic possession, cosmic horror, and the quiet dread of being responsible for someone else’s survival through a phone line.
From grisly crime scenes to frantic emergency calls, the book quickly establishes its tone: bleak, strange, and uncomfortably close to home. The horror doesn’t just come from entities and possessions. It comes from bureaucracy, protocols, and the knowledge that sometimes, even when you do everything right, people still die.
☎️ What worked best:
Atmosphere with teeth. The sterile office setting makes every supernatural intrusion feel sharper and more invasive.
The concept. A paranormal emergency call centre is a fantastic hook, and the story fully commits to it.
Samantha as a narrator. Cynical, anxious, and painfully relatable, she grounds the chaos emotionally.
Dark humor that lands. The comedy never weakens the horror. It highlights the absurd cruelty of it.
📞 What didn’t fully work for me:
The episodic structure slows momentum in places, and some calls are more memorable than others.
I wanted a bit more depth from a few secondary characters.
🕯️ Overall:
A strong pick for fans of modern, procedural paranormal horror threaded with gallows humor. This is unsettling not because the world ends, but because it doesn’t, and you still have to clock in tomorrow.
Would I reread it? Yes.
Would I recommend it to dark horror fans? Absolutely.
🩸 Hold music, corporate policy, and something breathing on the other end of the line.
This is customer service from hell, literally, and I mean that as a compliment.
Darkly funny, deeply unsettling, and far more emotionally exhausting than it first appears, Call Us If You Get Possessed takes the familiar misery of call-centre work and fuses it with demonic possession, cosmic horror, and the quiet dread of being responsible for someone else’s survival through a phone line.
From grisly crime scenes to frantic emergency calls, the book quickly establishes its tone: bleak, strange, and uncomfortably close to home. The horror doesn’t just come from entities and possessions. It comes from bureaucracy, protocols, and the knowledge that sometimes, even when you do everything right, people still die.
☎️ What worked best:
Atmosphere with teeth. The sterile office setting makes every supernatural intrusion feel sharper and more invasive.
The concept. A paranormal emergency call centre is a fantastic hook, and the story fully commits to it.
Samantha as a narrator. Cynical, anxious, and painfully relatable, she grounds the chaos emotionally.
Dark humor that lands. The comedy never weakens the horror. It highlights the absurd cruelty of it.
📞 What didn’t fully work for me:
The episodic structure slows momentum in places, and some calls are more memorable than others.
I wanted a bit more depth from a few secondary characters.
🕯️ Overall:
A strong pick for fans of modern, procedural paranormal horror threaded with gallows humor. This is unsettling not because the world ends, but because it doesn’t, and you still have to clock in tomorrow.
Would I reread it? Yes.
Would I recommend it to dark horror fans? Absolutely.
🩸 Hold music, corporate policy, and something breathing on the other end of the line.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Let me start by saying: I did not expect this under-200-page book to have me glued to my seat and willingly sacrificing sleep just to find out what the hell was going on. But here we are. 😅
The story kicks off strong and creepy, our opening scene has a woman hiding in her closet, convinced something is terribly wrong with her son. He’s standing on the other side of the door and calmly says, “Samantha, I’ll see you soon.”
WHEW. Immediate chills. That line alone set the tone and hooked me.
This book is a perfect blend of comedy, horror, and suspense, sprinkled with quirky moments that catch you off guard in the best way. One minute I was laughing, the next I was side-eyeing the dark, wondering if I should’ve kept a light on. The humor never undercuts the tension, it actually makes the unsettling moments hit harder.
What really surprised me was how invested I became so quickly. The pacing is tight, the concept is clever, and despite its length, the story feels complete and satisfying. By the end, I wasn’t overthinking I was just enjoying the ride.
If you’re looking for something funny, creepy, fast-paced, and genuinely entertaining, this one is absolutely worth your time. Just… maybe don’t read it right before bed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story kicks off strong and creepy, our opening scene has a woman hiding in her closet, convinced something is terribly wrong with her son. He’s standing on the other side of the door and calmly says, “Samantha, I’ll see you soon.”
WHEW. Immediate chills. That line alone set the tone and hooked me.
This book is a perfect blend of comedy, horror, and suspense, sprinkled with quirky moments that catch you off guard in the best way. One minute I was laughing, the next I was side-eyeing the dark, wondering if I should’ve kept a light on. The humor never undercuts the tension, it actually makes the unsettling moments hit harder.
What really surprised me was how invested I became so quickly. The pacing is tight, the concept is clever, and despite its length, the story feels complete and satisfying. By the end, I wasn’t overthinking I was just enjoying the ride.
If you’re looking for something funny, creepy, fast-paced, and genuinely entertaining, this one is absolutely worth your time. Just… maybe don’t read it right before bed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an absolute blast of comedic horror.
Call Us If You Get Possessed grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the very last absurd, paranoid beat. The quirkiness, the dark humor, the creeping sense of something is very wrong but we’re all pretending it’s fine; it all works beautifully.
Despite being short and unapologetically ridiculous, the story somehow manages to capture the soul of modern society: people drifting through life, deeply confused about what they’re doing, yet stubbornly carrying on anyway. Horror, but make it existential. And funny. And a little too relatable.
I honestly wish there were more. A lot more. I would have happily read another 300 pages in this world. The style, the humor, the pacing, and the vivid characters all hit exactly my taste. Every element feels intentional, sharp, and delightfully unhinged.
Thank you for this wildly fun ride.
A very solid 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Call Us If You Get Possessed grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the very last absurd, paranoid beat. The quirkiness, the dark humor, the creeping sense of something is very wrong but we’re all pretending it’s fine; it all works beautifully.
Despite being short and unapologetically ridiculous, the story somehow manages to capture the soul of modern society: people drifting through life, deeply confused about what they’re doing, yet stubbornly carrying on anyway. Horror, but make it existential. And funny. And a little too relatable.
I honestly wish there were more. A lot more. I would have happily read another 300 pages in this world. The style, the humor, the pacing, and the vivid characters all hit exactly my taste. Every element feels intentional, sharp, and delightfully unhinged.
Thank you for this wildly fun ride.
A very solid 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Call Us If You Get Possessed is the short story of Sam Miller and the daily events of her extremely odd job. It’s no spoiler to say that she mans a help desk for possessed people, but this tale gives us the “routine” tasks with humorous detail. I like Sam as a MC, the premise is perfect for a novella, but there could have been a better flow from event to event. For example, a pretty major turn occurs in the story and it felt as though I was just dropped out of it. Once it was done, that was it, moving on. It felt unfinished, so I appreciated the couple of epistolary-type chapters at the end which somewhat tied things together. Also, there are a few funny nods to other horror books and movies which added to the “could this be a real gig?” vibe. Overall, this was a fun read that could be a prologue to a fuller novel!
Thanks to BookSirens for this ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thanks to BookSirens for this ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I got to read this as an ARC
What can I say about this novella? It was a short and fun read. I was not sure what I could expect from it going in. The formatting got to me, especially at the end. I wanted to know more about what happened to Sam and Will. It seemed like a good story was set up, then it went completely off the rails.
It is a novella about paranormal horror, complete with possession and the supernatural. The novella keeps to these themes til the very end. Though for me, I wanted more of the characters that you get to know along the story. There are more questions raised by the end than questions answered. I think that might be the point, but I do want more from this.
Will there be more? Is this just a novella to bring more bits into further works? Is this just it with these characters?
That is the only reason I am not ranking this five stars.
The story was great, and I did enjoy it vastly. Just the structure at the end was a bit too different for me.
What can I say about this novella? It was a short and fun read. I was not sure what I could expect from it going in. The formatting got to me, especially at the end. I wanted to know more about what happened to Sam and Will. It seemed like a good story was set up, then it went completely off the rails.
It is a novella about paranormal horror, complete with possession and the supernatural. The novella keeps to these themes til the very end. Though for me, I wanted more of the characters that you get to know along the story. There are more questions raised by the end than questions answered. I think that might be the point, but I do want more from this.
Will there be more? Is this just a novella to bring more bits into further works? Is this just it with these characters?
That is the only reason I am not ranking this five stars.
The story was great, and I did enjoy it vastly. Just the structure at the end was a bit too different for me.
January 22, 2026
Funny, quirky, confusing, frustrating, and at times annoying.
Those are my thoughts about this novella.
It is supposed to be horror, but I just didn't see it. What I did think was that it was more of a government cover-up, conspiracy theory-themed story, which was cool with me.
I liked Will and Samantha and felt that they worked well in their roles. I would have loved to read more about their workplace and learned more about the results of their job, but after reading the letters/diary at the end of the novella, I can see why we didn't learn more. I really would have loved to hear what became of Sam and Will, and I'm sure the author hinted at it, but perhaps I'm just tp lierally minded to see it.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, which is self-published, the author, and Book Sirens.
Those are my thoughts about this novella.
It is supposed to be horror, but I just didn't see it. What I did think was that it was more of a government cover-up, conspiracy theory-themed story, which was cool with me.
I liked Will and Samantha and felt that they worked well in their roles. I would have loved to read more about their workplace and learned more about the results of their job, but after reading the letters/diary at the end of the novella, I can see why we didn't learn more. I really would have loved to hear what became of Sam and Will, and I'm sure the author hinted at it, but perhaps I'm just tp lierally minded to see it.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, which is self-published, the author, and Book Sirens.
December 23, 2025
“I don’t want to make you worried, but the life you have known is soon going to come to an end. But that might be a good thing. It’s up to you, really.”
Samantha Miller, 28, sees something on her walk home from work one night.
To reward her silence, she is offered a position with The Organization.
Manning the call center; dealing with inquiries of a paranormal nature.
It’s all so mysterious. 👀
Will Spencer, Sam’s coworker.
The vivid nightmares. A crazy and stressful job.
Poltergeists. Presences.
The notebook.
The package: the painting. 🖼️
Mimicking Demons.
Danger: Naaraah. 🪓
The house on Cherry Grove. 🏠
Surrealistic and darkly humorous. Nice ending.
Always a class act; a lovely thank-you to the readers. 👏🏻
It took time to pull myself together, but when I did, anger began to grow within me. I had to find her before she found me.
Samantha Miller, 28, sees something on her walk home from work one night.
To reward her silence, she is offered a position with The Organization.
Manning the call center; dealing with inquiries of a paranormal nature.
It’s all so mysterious. 👀
Will Spencer, Sam’s coworker.
The vivid nightmares. A crazy and stressful job.
Poltergeists. Presences.
The notebook.
The package: the painting. 🖼️
Mimicking Demons.
Danger: Naaraah. 🪓
The house on Cherry Grove. 🏠
Surrealistic and darkly humorous. Nice ending.
Always a class act; a lovely thank-you to the readers. 👏🏻
It took time to pull myself together, but when I did, anger began to grow within me. I had to find her before she found me.
Review of advance copy
Overall I enjoyed Call Us If You Get Possessed, the characters gave me a chuckle and I liked that the tone of the book was peculiar and not similar to anything that I recall having read before.
I thought the epilogue was really cool in that I've not seen that done before and for me, it made the book stand out. If you enjoyed The Jolly Postman as a kid, you'll enjoy that part too 😅
I think had I perhaps been in a different headspace, I'd have really loved this.
I will definitely read some of Chris' other books when I'm in a more receptive head space as this has definitely put him on my radar.
E-ARC received from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the epilogue was really cool in that I've not seen that done before and for me, it made the book stand out. If you enjoyed The Jolly Postman as a kid, you'll enjoy that part too 😅
I think had I perhaps been in a different headspace, I'd have really loved this.
I will definitely read some of Chris' other books when I'm in a more receptive head space as this has definitely put him on my radar.
E-ARC received from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
EARC REVIEW! Thank you to the author and booksprout for the arc!
This is a book about being a call centre employee that deals with paranormal entities and possessions.
I thought this balanced humor and horror really well. It was a really fun time and a very quick read. I liked following Samantha as a character, she felt like a real person in that situation!
I think maybe just a bit more spooks and ghosts but I thought it was great regardless.
This reminded me of the video game, Home Safety Hotline so I recommend this book for anyone who liked that.
This is a book about being a call centre employee that deals with paranormal entities and possessions.
I thought this balanced humor and horror really well. It was a really fun time and a very quick read. I liked following Samantha as a character, she felt like a real person in that situation!
I think maybe just a bit more spooks and ghosts but I thought it was great regardless.
This reminded me of the video game, Home Safety Hotline so I recommend this book for anyone who liked that.
Review of advance copy
Thanks to Book Sirens for the eARC
The story was ok, its based around a "call centre" who deal with people experiencing paranormal activity and possession. I feel there could have been more to the characters and the job they were doing. It gets a bit lost towards the end and i felt confused with how it ended. I also didnt get why there was paragraphs of conspiracy theories, I felt it didnt fit in well with the story, either that or I just didnt get the purpose.
The story was ok, its based around a "call centre" who deal with people experiencing paranormal activity and possession. I feel there could have been more to the characters and the job they were doing. It gets a bit lost towards the end and i felt confused with how it ended. I also didnt get why there was paragraphs of conspiracy theories, I felt it didnt fit in well with the story, either that or I just didnt get the purpose.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Imagine witnessing something paranormal on your way home, taking the scenic route, and realizing way too late that you weren’t supposed to see it. Two men show up to make that very clear and give you a choice: work for them, or face a much less favorable alternative. That’s how Samantha ends up with a new job at a paranormal hotline.
Samantha was easy to like. Her reactions, questions, and quiet unease felt grounded and realistic, exactly how I imagine most of us would respond when the supernatural crashes into our normal lives. The story follows her day-to-day work, slowly revealing the emotional and psychological consequences of being constantly exposed to the uncanny.
I really enjoyed the structure, with different call entries, documentation, reddit posts woven into the larger narrative. Each one adds texture to the world while steadily building tension and dread.
P.S. I always love a good South Park reference.
Samantha was easy to like. Her reactions, questions, and quiet unease felt grounded and realistic, exactly how I imagine most of us would respond when the supernatural crashes into our normal lives. The story follows her day-to-day work, slowly revealing the emotional and psychological consequences of being constantly exposed to the uncanny.
I really enjoyed the structure, with different call entries, documentation, reddit posts woven into the larger narrative. Each one adds texture to the world while steadily building tension and dread.
P.S. I always love a good South Park reference.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Never has a book captivated me so much from the first page, its literally "the Magnus archives" vibe, where reality and the abject terror of the unknown merge into one. I empathized incredibly with the characters, which is impressive having in mind that this is a really short book. An amazing work made by a delightfully dark mind. Thank you for the advanced copy!
May 20, 2025
This was a funny story about a call center for exorcists, it was a great balance between horror and comedy!
Review of advance copy
WOW.
For a small book it packs a punch!
Thank you to #booksprout for the advanced copy of Call us if you get possessed.
As the title suggests this book is about a call centre people can ring if there is possession happening in your home/family. We follow a woman Samantha who by some unusual circumstances acquires a role as a call centre customer care rep. I wont say too much as i went into this blind and I think that's the best way.
This book was so much fun to read, it had the right amount of mystery, humour and paranormal.
This was the first time I have read anything from Chris Burton and it wont be the last.
For a small book it packs a punch!
Thank you to #booksprout for the advanced copy of Call us if you get possessed.
As the title suggests this book is about a call centre people can ring if there is possession happening in your home/family. We follow a woman Samantha who by some unusual circumstances acquires a role as a call centre customer care rep. I wont say too much as i went into this blind and I think that's the best way.
This book was so much fun to read, it had the right amount of mystery, humour and paranormal.
This was the first time I have read anything from Chris Burton and it wont be the last.
February 1, 2026
Call Us If You Get Possessed
Author: Chris Burton
Genre: Paranormal Horror*
Release Date: February 24, 2026
This was a weird one! A quick read about Sam who is hired to work in an unconventional call centre after witnessing something she shouldn’t have. I enjoyed the relationship between Sam and Will - but it felt unfinished. There was quite a bit of information after the Epilogue that could have brought some depth & interesting narrative to the story itself - some of it was confusing and didn’t fit…I get where the author was going & may just be the reader! I enjoyed the main story itself but it did get a bit sideways in the middle until I figured out the POV.
*the author notes this as a horror novel, I thought it skirted the genre.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#bookstagram #reviews #books #ARC #indie
Author: Chris Burton
Genre: Paranormal Horror*
Release Date: February 24, 2026
This was a weird one! A quick read about Sam who is hired to work in an unconventional call centre after witnessing something she shouldn’t have. I enjoyed the relationship between Sam and Will - but it felt unfinished. There was quite a bit of information after the Epilogue that could have brought some depth & interesting narrative to the story itself - some of it was confusing and didn’t fit…I get where the author was going & may just be the reader! I enjoyed the main story itself but it did get a bit sideways in the middle until I figured out the POV.
*the author notes this as a horror novel, I thought it skirted the genre.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#bookstagram #reviews #books #ARC #indie
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