October Runs Red

by Scott Donnelly

Inspired by the whodunnits of Agatha Christie and modern day slasher films, "October Runs Red" (Book 1 in 'The October Trilogy) tells the gruesome tale of The Harvest Slasher, a serial killer stalking the cold October nights in Stewart Hollow, Oregon. On the first of the month, the local Sheriff's Department receives a bone-chilling poem in the mail, forecasting a month-long killing spree. The Harvest Slasher doesn't disappoint. Can you put the clues together?

Genres: Horror

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2015

About the author

Scott Donnelly is an indie author based in Grove City, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and three children. Scott is best known for his horror titles "Mothman: Return to Point Pleasant", “Sea Devil”, “A Monster in a Diner”, “Where it’s Always Spooky Season” (which won a 2023 Pen Craft Book Award) and "Cheater, Cheater" (which is receiving a 2024 film adaptation from writer/director Del Kary and distribution from SRS Cinema). Scott is also the creator and head writer of Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids, a horror podcast geared towards kids 8 and up. In addition to writing fiction, Scott also freelances for Weird Darkness Publishing as an editor and cover designer.

Reviews

[Angel Gelique · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sleepy town of Stewart Hollow gets a rude awakening when the sheriff receives a letter threatening mayhem and bloodshed. Shortly thereafter, a young woman is found murdered. Two days later, another body turns up. When others are killed, it becomes clear that the killer is targeting people who work at the community center and are involved with planning the annual Halloween Festival. Can the sheriff and his deputy find the murderer before (s)he strikes again?

I'm not one to nit-pick over typos but this book just had so many that I became distracted at times. After a while, they really started interfering with the flow of the story and therefore, my enjoyment. This book had plenty of potential. The premise is decent and the mystery kept me guessing. It definitely was entertaining.

Will I read books two and three? I guess I'm a sucker patient enough to continue the series and hope that the author did a better job editing the remaining books. We shall see....

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish it.

I didn't finish the story because it was boring. I saw the pumpkin on the cover, and thought it might be scary. It wasn't. It's a mystery tale. A boring mystery.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked but...……….not enough to give it a higher rating. The ending where they come up with the killer makes no sense to me. Sorry

[Carol Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book! This is the first book in the October Trilogy by this author & it definitely makes me want to read the next 2 books.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good little horror story, looking forward to next one to see who commits such crimes next, or wealthy actually the first really

[Rhona Crawford · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read and not difficult, but the language is unimaginative and formulaic. All the cops are speaking like the walked out of a cheap detective tale and the town folk act like they belong in a Dick Tracey episode.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Good Story.

This was a fun, light read for me. I like how the characters were listed at the start of this book, and the even pace of the story.