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The Woburn Chronicles
Shape-shifting leprechauns (1919). Mad scientist-sorcerers (1979). Haunted pine groves (2009). In Woburn, they’ve all been chronicled. A collection of three (interconnected) short stories, The Woburn Chronicles mixes historical fiction and urban fantasy, with a dash of Boston-Irish wit thrown in for good measure.
Fans of Stephen King, H. G. Wells, and H. P. Lovecraft will feel right at home in this wickedly weird universe, which is brimming with ghosts, goblins, and drunks who go bump in the night.
Plot Overview
An invisible nuisance plagues an Irish American household. A local reporter is held captive in an unfamiliar room from an unfamiliar era. A cult meeting is interrupted by a disheveled intruder. Over the decades, the residents of Woburn, Massachusetts have shrugged off a host of such unusual occurrences. But the truth is... there’s something wicked bubbling beneath the surface of their city.
Set in New England’s most mysterious city, Woburn, Massachusetts, located ten miles northwest of Boston, Chronicles takes the real history of this blue-collar community and methodically peels away the layers, revealing its sinister and supernatural underbelly.Keep reading to learn more about the three supernatural tales you’ll find inside. But for those of you who enjoy bone-chilling, spine-tingling surprises, fair This is a book best served with as little preamble as possible. To ensure an optimal reading experience, skip the rest of this description and grab your copy now.
I. The Little Ones
Ten-year-old Deirdre has grown accustomed to being blamed for all manner of mischief, much of which she is, admittedly, the source of. But when a series of false accusations begins piling up against her, she’ll enlist the help of her bookworm brother to reveal the identity of the real perpetrator. Set in 1919, just after the end of the First World War, the opening story of The Woburn Chronicles will prove that terrible things can, indeed, come in small packages.
II. A Civil Mutation
Griff shouldn’t be locked up in this room. That much he knows for sure. But it’s not just his imprisonment that he finds baffling, it’s also the room’s 18th-century decor. (He could have sworn it was still 1979 when he left his apartment…) As the details surrounding Griff’s captivity slowly fall into place, he’ll uncover a murderous plot that’s been decades in the making, and readers will finally understand why no one drinks the water in Woburn.
III. Beware the Witch’s Wood
Eight cloaked figures stand around a bonfire in a pine grove behind Horn Pond. Billy, the newest member of this nocturnal fraternity, is keen on making a good impression. Unfortunately, he’ll quickly become distracted by a mysterious female presence. While set in 2009, the third and final tale of The Woburn Chronicles harkens back to a much older episode in New England’s history—an episode that wasn’t just confined to Salem.
Fans of Stephen King, H. G. Wells, and H. P. Lovecraft will feel right at home in this wickedly weird universe, which is brimming with ghosts, goblins, and drunks who go bump in the night.
Plot Overview
An invisible nuisance plagues an Irish American household. A local reporter is held captive in an unfamiliar room from an unfamiliar era. A cult meeting is interrupted by a disheveled intruder. Over the decades, the residents of Woburn, Massachusetts have shrugged off a host of such unusual occurrences. But the truth is... there’s something wicked bubbling beneath the surface of their city.
Set in New England’s most mysterious city, Woburn, Massachusetts, located ten miles northwest of Boston, Chronicles takes the real history of this blue-collar community and methodically peels away the layers, revealing its sinister and supernatural underbelly.Keep reading to learn more about the three supernatural tales you’ll find inside. But for those of you who enjoy bone-chilling, spine-tingling surprises, fair This is a book best served with as little preamble as possible. To ensure an optimal reading experience, skip the rest of this description and grab your copy now.
I. The Little Ones
Ten-year-old Deirdre has grown accustomed to being blamed for all manner of mischief, much of which she is, admittedly, the source of. But when a series of false accusations begins piling up against her, she’ll enlist the help of her bookworm brother to reveal the identity of the real perpetrator. Set in 1919, just after the end of the First World War, the opening story of The Woburn Chronicles will prove that terrible things can, indeed, come in small packages.
II. A Civil Mutation
Griff shouldn’t be locked up in this room. That much he knows for sure. But it’s not just his imprisonment that he finds baffling, it’s also the room’s 18th-century decor. (He could have sworn it was still 1979 when he left his apartment…) As the details surrounding Griff’s captivity slowly fall into place, he’ll uncover a murderous plot that’s been decades in the making, and readers will finally understand why no one drinks the water in Woburn.
III. Beware the Witch’s Wood
Eight cloaked figures stand around a bonfire in a pine grove behind Horn Pond. Billy, the newest member of this nocturnal fraternity, is keen on making a good impression. Unfortunately, he’ll quickly become distracted by a mysterious female presence. While set in 2009, the third and final tale of The Woburn Chronicles harkens back to a much older episode in New England’s history—an episode that wasn’t just confined to Salem.
61 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2018
About the author
I.E. Kneverday
9 books8 followersI. E. Kneverday is a writer of science fiction, horror, and fantasy, whose short fiction has been featured in publications and anthologies including Exoplanet Magazine, Drabbledark, and Chronos.
His short story “Fromagegoria” won first place in Zeroflash’s flash fiction competition in July of 2018. In April of 2018, his story “Codebreaker” was shortlisted in Sweek’s #MicroKey competition.
I. E. Kneverday’s first book, The Woburn Chronicles: A Trio of Supernatural Tales Set in New England’s Most Mysterious City, is available now in paperback as well as in the Kindle Store.
Say hi on Twitter (@Kneverday) and Facebook (facebook.com/kneverday) or get in touch via email (kneverday at gmail dot com).
You can also visit I. E. Kneverday’s Author Page on Amazon right here: amazon.com/author/kneverday
His short story “Fromagegoria” won first place in Zeroflash’s flash fiction competition in July of 2018. In April of 2018, his story “Codebreaker” was shortlisted in Sweek’s #MicroKey competition.
I. E. Kneverday’s first book, The Woburn Chronicles: A Trio of Supernatural Tales Set in New England’s Most Mysterious City, is available now in paperback as well as in the Kindle Store.
Say hi on Twitter (@Kneverday) and Facebook (facebook.com/kneverday) or get in touch via email (kneverday at gmail dot com).
You can also visit I. E. Kneverday’s Author Page on Amazon right here: amazon.com/author/kneverday
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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July 24, 2018Hello good people of Goodreads. I just wanted to use this space to say that if you enjoy stories about shape-shifting leprechauns, mad scientists-cum-sorcerers, and cult gatherings in haunted pine groves, this collection of three interconnected short stories might be right up your (dark and twisted) alley. Thanks!
June 4, 2023
I jumped at this book as soon as I saw it and I'm glad I did. I spent a lot of time in Woburn in my younger years and never knew about its history which I now need to delve into. But onto the book.
The first story, The Little Ones, was a nice little historical appetizer set in 1919. Not just a fun short story but also a good introduction to what you should expect from the rest of the book.
The second story, A Civil Mutation, was not only the best story in the book but also one of the best short stories I've ever read. My only criticism would be that I wish it had been a lot longer, perhaps even novella length. A little background of Griff's life and everyday activities would have been nice since he's a heavy character. It also would have helped to set the tone for his constant sarcasm and wit which caught me off guard. I'm not saying it was bad by any means. The dialogue was superb and I wanted more of the character and the villains as well.
The third story, Beware the Witches Wood, was about as good as A Civil Mutation, to which it is tied. It's hard to go into detail further without spoilers, but I will say that I would have loved to see those two stories put together and expanded upon and made into a novel.
What you should expect if you pick up the book is a little horror, a little urban fantasy, sharp dialogue, and a well-researched dose of history. Whether you read Him Harrison or Cormac McCarthy, you'll probably find something you like here. I liked all of it.
The first story, The Little Ones, was a nice little historical appetizer set in 1919. Not just a fun short story but also a good introduction to what you should expect from the rest of the book.
The second story, A Civil Mutation, was not only the best story in the book but also one of the best short stories I've ever read. My only criticism would be that I wish it had been a lot longer, perhaps even novella length. A little background of Griff's life and everyday activities would have been nice since he's a heavy character. It also would have helped to set the tone for his constant sarcasm and wit which caught me off guard. I'm not saying it was bad by any means. The dialogue was superb and I wanted more of the character and the villains as well.
The third story, Beware the Witches Wood, was about as good as A Civil Mutation, to which it is tied. It's hard to go into detail further without spoilers, but I will say that I would have loved to see those two stories put together and expanded upon and made into a novel.
What you should expect if you pick up the book is a little horror, a little urban fantasy, sharp dialogue, and a well-researched dose of history. Whether you read Him Harrison or Cormac McCarthy, you'll probably find something you like here. I liked all of it.
September 21, 2024
Three well-written short stories. My only complaint is that each one ended too soon. Kneverday knew what he was doing, too—tormenting us!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews