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Dark Celebrations #3
Trick or Death
Halloween was the perfect time for Barry Steiner to put his plan into action. The only problem was not everyone in the neighborhood wanted to play his victim.
A short story.
A short story.
25 pages, ebook
First published October 27, 2016
5 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Calvin Demmer
84 books499 followersCalvin Demmer is a South African author of horror, dark fantasy, science fiction, and crime. His books include the flash fiction collection The Sea Was a Fair Master and the short story collections Dark Celebrations, Her Heart Beats for Ancient Beasts, Through the Ravenous Night We Ride, Duel the Darkness for Nightmare Rule, and The Town That Feared Dusk. When not writing, he is intrigued by that which goes bump in the night and the sciences of our universe.
You can find him online at calvindemmer.com or sign up for his newsletter to stay up to date with his latest projects.
You can find him online at calvindemmer.com or sign up for his newsletter to stay up to date with his latest projects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 8, 2021
When I saw this cover I knew I had to read the story. Trick or Death, what a claim! Barry Steiner is playing pranks on some elderly neighbors. He needs the material for his youtube channel. In Dr Lambert's house he's drawn into a world he can't understand. What is going on in those unlit rooms in the dark. What about the former assistant of the doctor, his sister? Why is she chained to the wall? Great Halloween tale with a surprising twist at the end. Will Barry come out of the story unharmed? Highly recommended!
November 15, 2016
What goes around, comes around and Halloween prankster Barry thought he was going to record the best tricks yet as he set out to terrorize senior citizens just to film their reactions. But what happens when someone refuses to be a victim? Is it Karma’s turn to play a trick on Barry?
I read this one twice, once to test the waters and once because I wanted to! Calvin Demmer has a talent for the short and not-so-sweet, but I guarantee it will be a memorable lesson to any pranksters out there who have ever thought of doing what Barry did! TRICK OR DEATH is another chiller that begs to be told around a campfire with a flashlight held under your face!
What Calvin Demmer does in just a few pages is nothing short of amazing, I met the characters, I decided whether I liked them or not and I grew a love/hate relationship with the ending, because when this author gets to the end, he wastes NO time dragging it out!!
received this copy from Calvin Demmer in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 28, 2016
Publisher: Calvin Demmer
Genre: Short - Horror
Print Length: 16 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
I read this one twice, once to test the waters and once because I wanted to! Calvin Demmer has a talent for the short and not-so-sweet, but I guarantee it will be a memorable lesson to any pranksters out there who have ever thought of doing what Barry did! TRICK OR DEATH is another chiller that begs to be told around a campfire with a flashlight held under your face!
What Calvin Demmer does in just a few pages is nothing short of amazing, I met the characters, I decided whether I liked them or not and I grew a love/hate relationship with the ending, because when this author gets to the end, he wastes NO time dragging it out!!
received this copy from Calvin Demmer in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 28, 2016
Publisher: Calvin Demmer
Genre: Short - Horror
Print Length: 16 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 7, 2023
Calvin Demmer has the remarkable talent to write an entire book’s worth of character development, creepy imagery, and plot twists in one short story. I don’t know how he does it, but he never fails to knock his short stories out of the ballpark. I just loved this one — it grabs you from paragraph one and doesn’t let go. If you haven’t read this author’s short stories yet, please do yourself a huge favor and read one—now! His writing is as addictive as it is creepy!!
February 10, 2023
I really liked this short story, definitely a 5 stars. This one had me hooked quick and took a great dark turn. Loved it!
October 14, 2018
Creeeepy!!! Demmer has done it again!! He’s so great at these little creepy stories, that I feel he should have them made into a series on television! In a matter of a couple of pages I am drawn in and a few pages more I am really intrigued by these characters! By the end of the book I am just sitting there with my mouth hanging open! Creeeepy!! Thoroughly entertaining and so well written, Trick or Death is a highly recommended, 5+ Star book!!!
November 11, 2016
This is the 3rd short story I've read by Calvin Demmer and I think this one is my favorite.
Obviously I can't give much away to refrain from ruining the short for anyone else but I can say the story felt nicely full-bodied and after reading the opening sentence I thought this one was going to have a whole different outcome.
I like how Calvin manages to put the real life aspect next to the paranormal, how the mellow is paired with brutal.
Overall, a totally satisfying short story- i don't know how Calvin manages to bring across so much with so few words. It's a talent.
Obviously I can't give much away to refrain from ruining the short for anyone else but I can say the story felt nicely full-bodied and after reading the opening sentence I thought this one was going to have a whole different outcome.
I like how Calvin manages to put the real life aspect next to the paranormal, how the mellow is paired with brutal.
Overall, a totally satisfying short story- i don't know how Calvin manages to bring across so much with so few words. It's a talent.
March 17, 2020
Trick or Death was another fun little horror read from Calvin Demmer, a story that delivers plenty. For someone with mixed feelings about short stories, I was more than satisfied by what played out in this one.
With Trick or Death, I thought I knew where this story was going to go, only to be given something else instead. I was hooked throughout, adored the way things developed, and was left more than satisfied with the way things played out.
Without a doubt, Trick or Death proves Calvin Demmer is an author to follow when looking for great short stories.
With Trick or Death, I thought I knew where this story was going to go, only to be given something else instead. I was hooked throughout, adored the way things developed, and was left more than satisfied with the way things played out.
Without a doubt, Trick or Death proves Calvin Demmer is an author to follow when looking for great short stories.
October 24, 2023
My favorite short story of his so far. Perfect for spooky season! 🐺
October 29, 2018
I grabbed a freebie of this shortie for my Paperwhite over the weekend, and read it early this morning.
Barry has a plan for this Halloween. He's going to scare some of his neigbours with his cool Reaper costume. And then he's going to post their reactions on YouTube. He's convinced it's going to be the perfect way to get his subscriber numbers up, but his friend Rose has other ideas. Will he choose her offer, or continue his quest for likes?
I really enjoyed this story! It was well written, had great characters, was spooky enough to satisfy my Halloween mood, and takes the reader down a deliciously dark path. And most of all, it was fun!
Not to mention how well the author captured the subscriber/like obsession over on YouTube. LOL.
This is a great horror short.
Barry has a plan for this Halloween. He's going to scare some of his neigbours with his cool Reaper costume. And then he's going to post their reactions on YouTube. He's convinced it's going to be the perfect way to get his subscriber numbers up, but his friend Rose has other ideas. Will he choose her offer, or continue his quest for likes?
I really enjoyed this story! It was well written, had great characters, was spooky enough to satisfy my Halloween mood, and takes the reader down a deliciously dark path. And most of all, it was fun!
Not to mention how well the author captured the subscriber/like obsession over on YouTube. LOL.
This is a great horror short.
October 11, 2023
wolf it
Can’t help but a good revenge story. Add in creep and gore and it’s a win win. Not much else to say other than don’t break into a house unless you want to….
Can’t help but a good revenge story. Add in creep and gore and it’s a win win. Not much else to say other than don’t break into a house unless you want to….
October 20, 2018
Young YouTuber Barry has one foot in the ‘I could be famous’ camp and one foot in the ‘I can finally get with the love of my life’ camp. On Halloween night, both of these options are incredibly intense, especially when he has just one more house to prank with his video camera. And, this house is the mother of all houses—it’s where the local doctor lives. Barry can’t resist scaring the man who’s scared him his whole life. So. Many. Injections. Yikes. This feels like sweet revenge to Barry. And his prank is pretty harmless, which is merely posting the neighbors’ screams on social media. What can go wrong with that? Well, that’s the crux of the story. Demmer wallops the reader with this ending. Barry could never imagine what’s in store for him when he enters the doctor’s house. We feel especially terrible for him, since Barry seems to be making one bad decision after the other. Ah, the mistakes of youth. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.
You’ll want to gobble up this fast-moving, well-constructed, and cringe-worthy tale perfect for any night, but particularly fun to read in Halloween season. Demmer manages to infuse a bit of humor in between all the suspense, making for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Plus, the story will make you wonder what your neighbors are really doing behind closed doors. Be very, very wary. Before it’s too late!
You’ll want to gobble up this fast-moving, well-constructed, and cringe-worthy tale perfect for any night, but particularly fun to read in Halloween season. Demmer manages to infuse a bit of humor in between all the suspense, making for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Plus, the story will make you wonder what your neighbors are really doing behind closed doors. Be very, very wary. Before it’s too late!
November 4, 2016
Another short, quick, creepy read from an author I’m growing to like more and more. This story basically describes a not-so-happy Halloween where the main character sets out to have some mostly harmless fun, finds reason to have high hopes with a girl, and then gets himself into a situation where everything goes horribly, horribly wrong. In just a few pages the author does a great job of making you care about this guy and girl, and then the one bad choice leading to disaster makes everything quite tragic. The supernatural twist comes out of nowhere and of course adds to the horror, but I’ll let you find out what’s going on for yourself.
Give it a read if you’re in the Halloween spirit!
Give it a read if you’re in the Halloween spirit!
February 7, 2023
Another short, clever horror story from Demmer.
The word I'm left with after just reading this is: OUCH.
The word I'm left with after just reading this is: OUCH.
October 27, 2023
What started as a good Halloween evening of pranks turned into a living hell for Barry. He probably should have spent more time listening to his love interest Rose but he was more interested in petty likes on his YouTube channel. I really like how the author describes the cracking of bones. It seems he likes to make the characters in his short stories loose limbs ha.
October 27, 2023
weird short halloween story..
October 26, 2018
I'm really loving all of the Halloween short stories I've read in October, this one included! I've recently read Calvin Demmer's collection The Sea Was a Fair Master and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was eager to read Trick or Death.
The story sets out suspenseful as it opens up on Halloween night with a man dressed in a scary costume hiding on an old lady's front porch. I always assume the worst, so of course I thought the poor old lady would be harmed when she opened the door after the man's doorbell ring. He risked giving her a heart attack at the very least, as he jumps out at her yelling "Trick or Death!" The old lady figures it is just a trick-or-treater and overcomes her panic, and sure enough - the man is just a friendly neighbor guy named Barry with his accomplice Rose, going door to door to scare the crap out of people and record their reactions for his YouTube channel. Social media engagement is low for Barry, and to spark some social media love, he thought he'd film some Halloween hijinks.
The first couple houses go without any real hitch, but then Rose winds up telling him the pranks are stupid and she'd rather just hang out at her place...alone. Torn between getting more videos and spending an evening with Rose, he ends up compromising with her - one last video recorded on his own and he'll catch up with her later. He had one more house to visit, an old "acquaintance" from his childhood that would never suspect to be bothered by scary trick-or-treaters (they're usually harmless, much-younger children, after all).
Barry should have chosen his next victim more carefully.
I won't say any more about the plot, but it had a very unexpected ending for me. I have a bad habit of trying to figure out the ending of stories. I don't know why I do it, I just do. But this ending was very different from what I expected, and was a very good one.
The moral of the story: there's only so much you should risk when boosting your social media engagement levels. Or quite simply, maybe don't do pranks on Halloween night :).
Great read, check it out!
The story sets out suspenseful as it opens up on Halloween night with a man dressed in a scary costume hiding on an old lady's front porch. I always assume the worst, so of course I thought the poor old lady would be harmed when she opened the door after the man's doorbell ring. He risked giving her a heart attack at the very least, as he jumps out at her yelling "Trick or Death!" The old lady figures it is just a trick-or-treater and overcomes her panic, and sure enough - the man is just a friendly neighbor guy named Barry with his accomplice Rose, going door to door to scare the crap out of people and record their reactions for his YouTube channel. Social media engagement is low for Barry, and to spark some social media love, he thought he'd film some Halloween hijinks.
The first couple houses go without any real hitch, but then Rose winds up telling him the pranks are stupid and she'd rather just hang out at her place...alone. Torn between getting more videos and spending an evening with Rose, he ends up compromising with her - one last video recorded on his own and he'll catch up with her later. He had one more house to visit, an old "acquaintance" from his childhood that would never suspect to be bothered by scary trick-or-treaters (they're usually harmless, much-younger children, after all).
Barry should have chosen his next victim more carefully.
I won't say any more about the plot, but it had a very unexpected ending for me. I have a bad habit of trying to figure out the ending of stories. I don't know why I do it, I just do. But this ending was very different from what I expected, and was a very good one.
The moral of the story: there's only so much you should risk when boosting your social media engagement levels. Or quite simply, maybe don't do pranks on Halloween night :).
Great read, check it out!
October 29, 2018
I snagged this as a freebie on the weekend and man what a great read. Very fun, original take on a Halloween baddie!
I enjoyed the premise, enjoyed the characters (although damn man, go to the girl!), but ultimately I wished this was so much longer!
Highly recommend, and I can't wait to read The Sea is a Fair Master!
4.5./5 (easy 5 with a bit more length!)
I enjoyed the premise, enjoyed the characters (although damn man, go to the girl!), but ultimately I wished this was so much longer!
Highly recommend, and I can't wait to read The Sea is a Fair Master!
4.5./5 (easy 5 with a bit more length!)
October 28, 2018
I really enjoyed this short story! If you’re looking for a quick, spooky Halloween read you can get in before the end of the month, then this one is definitely for you! Looking forward to reading more from Demmer.
September 27, 2021
This was a fun little Halloween story!
October 28, 2021
Perfect story to read just in time for Halloween!
November 1, 2020
I have never read anything by this author before but will attempt to look for more written by them in the future. This was not a scary story really, which is what I expected when I started it. This is almost a cautionary tale about not going where you should not be. There is nothing about the special characters, they are basic. There is a bit of suspense built in the fact that the main character goes through so many contortions to get what he wants. Honestly, I read this pretty quickly because I didn't care much about what happened once I realized that I was not going to get my big scare moment. But to contradict me I did like the ending which caught me by surprise since I could not and did not, the character there had not been mentioned, see it coming.
Barry Steiner is one of those youtube guys who always want more likes or views and does not know how to turn it off. On Halloween, he thought it would be a good idea to put his plan to grow his brand into action. The biggest problem for him was that not everyone wanted to be victimized by him and his camera person gave him an ultimatum. Is he smart enough to do the right thing?
Nice enough story that gave me a little kick in the end. It did engage me whhich says a lot about how it is written. I may not have liked the main character but the story still moved well. Worth my time in the end.
Barry Steiner is one of those youtube guys who always want more likes or views and does not know how to turn it off. On Halloween, he thought it would be a good idea to put his plan to grow his brand into action. The biggest problem for him was that not everyone wanted to be victimized by him and his camera person gave him an ultimatum. Is he smart enough to do the right thing?
Nice enough story that gave me a little kick in the end. It did engage me whhich says a lot about how it is written. I may not have liked the main character but the story still moved well. Worth my time in the end.
November 1, 2018
Currently free in the kindle store!
Trick or Death is a fun, eerie little story that reminds me of a classic horror trope—the protagonist who just can't seem to leave well enough alone, no matter how foreboding the situation might seem. Calvin Demmer's writing is entertaining and to the point, and while the ending wasn't what I expected it to be, I really enjoyed it.
November 21, 2018
Creepy, fun Halloween tale
I meant to read this in October, but that month flew by me. This short story is well-written and engaging. To be honest, I always find myself wishing most of the tales I read by Demmer are longer, and this one is no exception. I wanted more time with these characters. Pick this one up if you're looking for a quick entertaining Trick or treat story. As always, I'll be picking up whatever Demmer puts down next.
I meant to read this in October, but that month flew by me. This short story is well-written and engaging. To be honest, I always find myself wishing most of the tales I read by Demmer are longer, and this one is no exception. I wanted more time with these characters. Pick this one up if you're looking for a quick entertaining Trick or treat story. As always, I'll be picking up whatever Demmer puts down next.
February 18, 2023
I always love a good werewolf tale, this one is creative and fun.
Also a Halloween theme so I’m satisfied, well done
Also a Halloween theme so I’m satisfied, well done
October 29, 2021
This was fine. Not bad, not great. Fun and short for Halloween. Also it was free which is rad.
November 20, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Calvin Demmer in exchange for an honest review.
When Barry decides to scare his neighbours by "trick or treating" in order to get ratings for his YouTube channel, he didn't realise he would be the one to subjected to a vicious trick! Whilst the girl of his dreams gives him an ultimatum-go for one more scare or come home with her, Barry can't resist the pull of "scaring" his local Dr to get enough footage to upload. However, when Barry decides to enter the Dr's house through the basement he certainly is not prepared for what was laying in store for him!
A short, sharp tale which has the hairs standing up on the back of your neck in anticipation of what's to come! Calvin has a unique way of telling gruesome short stories which has just enough storyline to pull you in and then strike with an element of surprise.
I thoroughly recommend all of Calvin's short stories to anyone interested in horror/thriller tales and look forward to many more in 2017!!
5 out 5 stars
When Barry decides to scare his neighbours by "trick or treating" in order to get ratings for his YouTube channel, he didn't realise he would be the one to subjected to a vicious trick! Whilst the girl of his dreams gives him an ultimatum-go for one more scare or come home with her, Barry can't resist the pull of "scaring" his local Dr to get enough footage to upload. However, when Barry decides to enter the Dr's house through the basement he certainly is not prepared for what was laying in store for him!
A short, sharp tale which has the hairs standing up on the back of your neck in anticipation of what's to come! Calvin has a unique way of telling gruesome short stories which has just enough storyline to pull you in and then strike with an element of surprise.
I thoroughly recommend all of Calvin's short stories to anyone interested in horror/thriller tales and look forward to many more in 2017!!
5 out 5 stars
October 11, 2019
I liked it.
This is a spooky little Halloween story. The kids only wanted to do a few pranks on the holiday, but got more than they barganed for.
This is a spooky little Halloween story. The kids only wanted to do a few pranks on the holiday, but got more than they barganed for.
January 16, 2021
This short story was soooo goooooddddd. Faviroute of Calvin Demmers work so far, loved the descriptors, and that ending went through me. 5/5
May 10, 2021
Interesting Twist
What starts a as a (mostly) innocent prank turns deadly as the wrong house gets visited on Halloween.
The good parts of this story are the twist ending. Unlike some of Demmer's short stories, the ending was not predictable.
The bad part is the dialogue. It does not come off as organic at all. It is forced and a bit awkward, but it can be overlooked for the sake of the story.
What starts a as a (mostly) innocent prank turns deadly as the wrong house gets visited on Halloween.
The good parts of this story are the twist ending. Unlike some of Demmer's short stories, the ending was not predictable.
The bad part is the dialogue. It does not come off as organic at all. It is forced and a bit awkward, but it can be overlooked for the sake of the story.
October 12, 2024
Oh these are really good! Trick or Death had this ominous feel from the get go. I just love the way Calvin (Author) writes. Another quick short story and well worth reading.
The Dark Celebrations are all short stories and available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe to the service - 3.5 stars.
The Dark Celebrations are all short stories and available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe to the service - 3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews