Halloween Hunt

by Richard Laymon

Many students get their first real taste of reading for pleasure when they pick up a Fastback. These high-interest novels are quick to read at just 32 pages each. Choose any of the seven exciting sets or the whole series. SkillCheck Cards designed to build reading comprehension are available for each novel.

Genres: Horror

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Richard Laymon was born in Chicago and grew up in California. He earned a BA in English Literature from Willamette University, Oregon and an MA from Loyola University, Los Angeles. He worked as a schoolteacher, a librarian, and a report writer for a law firm, and was the author of more than thirty acclaimed novels.

He also published more than sixty short stories in magazines such as Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, and Cavalier, and in anthologies including Modern Masters of Horror.

He died from a massive heart attack on February 14, 2001 (Valentine's Day).

Also published under the name Richard Kelly

Reviews

[Jay Rothermel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Halloween Hunt" (1987) is a short story I would immediately recommend to horror readers who dislike Laymon's sometimes sexist prurience.

Granted, the story opens with our twent-something protagonist pulling out her old cheerleader uniform after choosing last-minute to attend a friend's Halloween costume party.

But that's as far as it goes.

The party-goers are sent on a macabre nighttime scavenger hunt. Each of the three items demands more of their nerves and stamina than the last.

One of the party, as well, is dressed as a sheetted ghost, and does not speak. Is he a friend of the host? Is he a revenant? Or new boyfriend material?

"Halloween Haunts" is a a tense romp, horrific but not excessively splattery.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quickie short story. The host of a Halloween party has set up a special scavenger hunt for two different teams. Each has three goals to accomplish, and the team which succeeds first will win a cool $300 to split between the participants.

I'm a great fan of stories where the protagonist(s) have to perform increasingly bizarre and dangerous feats for someone else's pleasure. Laymon's done several stories with this theme, but this is a story from earlier in his career and I'm happy to finally get my hands on a copy.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of friends and colleagues go on a scavenger hunt on Halloween. The prize for the best find is 100 $. After leaving the cemetery, they go to a funeral parlor and end up in a house where its owner hanged himself. Can you guess what happened there? Interesting Laymon story without his usual trademarks and a good twist at the end. Nothing too spectacular but it gives you a fine foretaste for this year's Halloween. Recommended.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short horror story with stereotypical characters - dumb young adult woman who pulls out her high school cheer uniform for a Halloween party to impress her jerk/jock ex-boyfriend. Good thing the mysterious new guy is handsome and brave to save her from the ex's juvenile haunted pranks. An unknown monster thing attacks at the end. Very simple text- almost like it's written for kids (or even like a kid wrote it) but it's not a kid's story.

[Adam Cleaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple plot as teh book is only 30 'small pages' long.
Not much to it really, just felt like an idea that was never really fully developed.
Again, is this an appearence of the 'beast' from Beast House?
Ok for a quick read, but not worth the money it demands these days!
2.5 stars...

[Alexandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and to the point.

[Ranjana · Rating 2 out of 5]

An average short story

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fast fun, thriller.

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick Richard Laymon read. Alas, no splatterpunk.

[Phil Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of Laymon's Double Fastbacks. This one did feel a little long. I felt like it was a blend of "In the Dark" and "The Beast House Chronicles". The scavenger hunt definitely reminds you are MOG, and the finally screams Beast House.

Enjoyable!

[Jax Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these Richard Laymon fastbacks. Halloween Haunt is a story of a practical joke that turns out deadly serious. Great reads when you first wake up in the morning.

[Ray Palen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Halloween scavenger hunt goes badly wrong in this spooky short by the Master Of Horror - Richard Laymon.