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Halloween Nights: Tales of Autumn Fright
It's the Season of the Witch!
Goblins roam, ghosts drift through graveyards, children dressed as monsters beg treats and the Reaper collects his dark harvest. Listen carefully and you can hear the screams, or laughter, through the the rush of leaves scattered by the wind.
Halloween Nights gathers some of the brightest stars in the horror Constellation in this all new collection of tales centered around autumnal hauntings guaranteed to add a shiver to the air.
They are tales best whispered, stories of terror, tricks and treats that kids dare not speak aloud, for fear the words might ring too true.
Featuring original tales from Dan Brereton, V. Castro, Billy Chizmar, Richard Chizmar, Christopher Golden, Brian Keene, Bracken Macleod, John McIlveen, Hilary Monahan, James A. Moore, Errick Nunnally, Mary SanGiovanni, Sheri Sebastian-Gabriel, Jeff Strand, and Trisha J. Wooldridge
“Halloween Nights is a brilliant and disturbing collection of horror tales by some of today’s finest writers. Chilling, unexpected, and unnerving fun!” -Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of RELENTLESS and V-WARS
Goblins roam, ghosts drift through graveyards, children dressed as monsters beg treats and the Reaper collects his dark harvest. Listen carefully and you can hear the screams, or laughter, through the the rush of leaves scattered by the wind.
Halloween Nights gathers some of the brightest stars in the horror Constellation in this all new collection of tales centered around autumnal hauntings guaranteed to add a shiver to the air.
They are tales best whispered, stories of terror, tricks and treats that kids dare not speak aloud, for fear the words might ring too true.
Featuring original tales from Dan Brereton, V. Castro, Billy Chizmar, Richard Chizmar, Christopher Golden, Brian Keene, Bracken Macleod, John McIlveen, Hilary Monahan, James A. Moore, Errick Nunnally, Mary SanGiovanni, Sheri Sebastian-Gabriel, Jeff Strand, and Trisha J. Wooldridge
“Halloween Nights is a brilliant and disturbing collection of horror tales by some of today’s finest writers. Chilling, unexpected, and unnerving fun!” -Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of RELENTLESS and V-WARS
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2021
About the author
James A. Moore
223 books771 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
James A. Moore was the award winning author of over forty novels, thrillers, dark fantasy and horror alike, including the critically acclaimed Fireworks, Under The Overtree, Blood Red, the Serenity Falls trilogy (featuring his recurring anti-hero, Jonathan Crowley) and his most recent novels, seven Forges, The Blasted Lands, City of Wonders , The Silent Army and the forthcoming The Gates of The Dead (Book Three in the Tides of War Series) and A Hell Within, co-authored with Charles R. Rutledge.
James A. Moore was the award winning author of over forty novels, thrillers, dark fantasy and horror alike, including the critically acclaimed Fireworks, Under The Overtree, Blood Red, the Serenity Falls trilogy (featuring his recurring anti-hero, Jonathan Crowley) and his most recent novels, seven Forges, The Blasted Lands, City of Wonders , The Silent Army and the forthcoming The Gates of The Dead (Book Three in the Tides of War Series) and A Hell Within, co-authored with Charles R. Rutledge.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 18, 2021
A fun Halloween anthology, housing some fantastic writing.
While I enjoyed some stories more than others, I found them all fun and engaging. The three I found most entertaining were...
1. Beneath The Veil by John McIlveen
2. My Favorite Halloween Memory by Jeff Strand
3. No One Will Believe You by Trisha J. Woolridge
This was the perfect Halloween read. And for me, Halloween is a year-around celebration, so really, this book is just a winner all the days.
While I enjoyed some stories more than others, I found them all fun and engaging. The three I found most entertaining were...
1. Beneath The Veil by John McIlveen
2. My Favorite Halloween Memory by Jeff Strand
3. No One Will Believe You by Trisha J. Woolridge
This was the perfect Halloween read. And for me, Halloween is a year-around celebration, so really, this book is just a winner all the days.
October 18, 2021
HALLOWEEN NIGHTS, edited by James A. Moore, was a great collection of Halloween horror for the season. I enjoyed nearly every one of these tales, with stand-outs being:
--RAWHEAD, by Hilary Monahan
--HANNAH, by Mary SanGiovanni
--NO ONE WILL BELIEVE YOU, by Trisha J. Wooldridge
--KETTLE, by Dan Brereton & James A. Moore, and
--THE CEMETERY ON BLACKWELL ROAD, by James A. Moore
Fantastic addition to those Halloween shelves!
Recommended.
--RAWHEAD, by Hilary Monahan
--HANNAH, by Mary SanGiovanni
--NO ONE WILL BELIEVE YOU, by Trisha J. Wooldridge
--KETTLE, by Dan Brereton & James A. Moore, and
--THE CEMETERY ON BLACKWELL ROAD, by James A. Moore
Fantastic addition to those Halloween shelves!
Recommended.
October 30, 2021
Looking for a Halloween Tale? Read Below
With anthologies, it is always sort of a mixed bag. With this one, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the stories stayed on theme. Great editing job from James A. Moore (pick up his collaboration with Jeff Strand if you haven’t already: The Haunted Forest Tour). This is definitely light horror, but certainly had some terrific tales in the mix. Shout out to Dan Brereton, comic book artist, who created the cover and the interior drawings. Here are my ratings out of 5 (5 being excellent):
1. ‘Trial of Abigail Pierce’ by Bracken MacLeod.
Wonderful short story about the sins of man, and how we love to punish women for their misdeeds. There was an interesting flow to the story and the words. At certain junctions, there would be words written like poetry, with simple shapes like what you would think of in terms of old fashion witchcraft, but because I was reading on a iphone some of that symbolism I think was lost. This felt more like a good tale though than a spooky Halloween story.
Rating: 4.5/5
2. ‘I’m not gonna make it’ by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene (just that combo should not even be fair competition)
Terrific story. Blended the new with the old, and without giving anything away, gave the reader a new twist on Samhain and Halloween. I could see this story blended into the Treat R Treat anthology. Gave off that kind of vibe. Interesting combo of Keene and Golden.
Rating: 5/5
3. ‘Kettle’ by Dan Brereton and James A.Moore
Great ghost story with a fun storyline. The ending was a bit problematic for me, I didn’t understand the point of introducing the grandson of Farmer Pritchard and not tying him into the conclusion.
Rating: 4/5
4. ‘The Cemetery on Blackwell Road’ by James A. Moore.
Nice tie in with previous story. The main character, Eddie, made the story thoroughly enjoyable because he is an interesting kid. Wasn’t crazy about the whole wrap-up of the story though.
Rating: 4/5
5. ‘Marigolds for Flesh’ by V. Castro
Very unique story! Not sure I liked it though… was a bit offbeat and left much unanswered.
Rating: 3/5
6. ‘Beneath the Veil’ by John McIlveen
Excellent short story. Simple, but to the point! Really enjoyed this revenge tale
Rating: 5/5
7. ‘Mr. Flexxo Discontinued’ by Sheri Sébastien-Gabriel
Good idea for a story, but the story itself just seemed like such a mishmash of past and present. Did not resonate with me.
Rating: 3/5
8. ‘My Favorite Halloween Memory’ by Jeff Strand
Mr. Strand is my hero. The sarcasm is biting and he always knows how to turn a story around. Literally laughed outloud. Great dose of humour and horror.
Rating: 5/5
9. ‘Stains’ by Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar
Excellent story! Quick read and just flows. Superb writing.
Rating: 5/5
10. ‘Hannah’ by Mary SanGiovanni
Creepy and emotionally charged story. Written with a practiced hand.
Rating: 4.5/5
11. ‘Night Boy’ by Errick Nunnally
Meh! Sweet story for kids
Rating: 3/5
12. ‘No one will believe you’ by Trisha J Wooldridge
Excellent story. Creepy and unique twist on a ghost story from a girl’s woman point of view. Sometimes a haunting is not about a person, but rather about the evil things that people do. This may have been my favorite story.
Rating: 5/5
13. ‘Rawhead’ by Hilary Monahan
Very disturbing and creepy folktale. What a mother will do to protect her babe(s).
Rating: 4.5/5
With anthologies, it is always sort of a mixed bag. With this one, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the stories stayed on theme. Great editing job from James A. Moore (pick up his collaboration with Jeff Strand if you haven’t already: The Haunted Forest Tour). This is definitely light horror, but certainly had some terrific tales in the mix. Shout out to Dan Brereton, comic book artist, who created the cover and the interior drawings. Here are my ratings out of 5 (5 being excellent):
1. ‘Trial of Abigail Pierce’ by Bracken MacLeod.
Wonderful short story about the sins of man, and how we love to punish women for their misdeeds. There was an interesting flow to the story and the words. At certain junctions, there would be words written like poetry, with simple shapes like what you would think of in terms of old fashion witchcraft, but because I was reading on a iphone some of that symbolism I think was lost. This felt more like a good tale though than a spooky Halloween story.
Rating: 4.5/5
2. ‘I’m not gonna make it’ by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene (just that combo should not even be fair competition)
Terrific story. Blended the new with the old, and without giving anything away, gave the reader a new twist on Samhain and Halloween. I could see this story blended into the Treat R Treat anthology. Gave off that kind of vibe. Interesting combo of Keene and Golden.
Rating: 5/5
3. ‘Kettle’ by Dan Brereton and James A.Moore
Great ghost story with a fun storyline. The ending was a bit problematic for me, I didn’t understand the point of introducing the grandson of Farmer Pritchard and not tying him into the conclusion.
Rating: 4/5
4. ‘The Cemetery on Blackwell Road’ by James A. Moore.
Nice tie in with previous story. The main character, Eddie, made the story thoroughly enjoyable because he is an interesting kid. Wasn’t crazy about the whole wrap-up of the story though.
Rating: 4/5
5. ‘Marigolds for Flesh’ by V. Castro
Very unique story! Not sure I liked it though… was a bit offbeat and left much unanswered.
Rating: 3/5
6. ‘Beneath the Veil’ by John McIlveen
Excellent short story. Simple, but to the point! Really enjoyed this revenge tale
Rating: 5/5
7. ‘Mr. Flexxo Discontinued’ by Sheri Sébastien-Gabriel
Good idea for a story, but the story itself just seemed like such a mishmash of past and present. Did not resonate with me.
Rating: 3/5
8. ‘My Favorite Halloween Memory’ by Jeff Strand
Mr. Strand is my hero. The sarcasm is biting and he always knows how to turn a story around. Literally laughed outloud. Great dose of humour and horror.
Rating: 5/5
9. ‘Stains’ by Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar
Excellent story! Quick read and just flows. Superb writing.
Rating: 5/5
10. ‘Hannah’ by Mary SanGiovanni
Creepy and emotionally charged story. Written with a practiced hand.
Rating: 4.5/5
11. ‘Night Boy’ by Errick Nunnally
Meh! Sweet story for kids
Rating: 3/5
12. ‘No one will believe you’ by Trisha J Wooldridge
Excellent story. Creepy and unique twist on a ghost story from a girl’s woman point of view. Sometimes a haunting is not about a person, but rather about the evil things that people do. This may have been my favorite story.
Rating: 5/5
13. ‘Rawhead’ by Hilary Monahan
Very disturbing and creepy folktale. What a mother will do to protect her babe(s).
Rating: 4.5/5
October 2, 2026
It is officially October 2nd, which means I’ve been in full spooky season mode since last October 😬 … ahem! I picked up 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 to reread because I needed something to keep the vibes flowing, and I can honestly say = best decision I’ve made all week. Like the first time I read it, I devoured this book. James A. Moore put together a ridiculously fun collection that hits the autumn atmosphere dead-on, and Dan Brereton’s artwork gives the whole book a gorgeously sinister aesthetic. Is every story a masterpiece? No, anthologies are always a bit of a gamble, but that’s the best part, you never know what you’re gonna get. For example, V. Castro’s 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘍𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 was a little too bizarre for its own good, leaving me with way more questions than answers, and Errick Nunnally’s 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘺 felt like a Smarties candy that belonged in a kid’s trick-or-treat bag rather than a horror lineup. But am I complaining? Hell no! Throw me more fun, kiddie-ish stories and I’ll eat ‘em right up!
That said, the high points are absolute bangers. Trisha J. Woolridge’s 𝘕𝘰 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 came close to being a favorite of mine because it’s a really creepy ghost story that entails human cruelty is far scarier than any spectre. Jeff Strand brought his signature biting sarcasm in 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺, which had me cackling like a witch over a cauldron while still giving me chills. The heavy-hitter pairings also crushed it: Christopher Golden and Brian Keene joined forces for 𝘐'𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘐𝘵 to drop a killer modern spin on Samhain traditions, while Richard and Billy Chizmar (two of my favorite authors, by the way. Read their books if you haven’t already!!) offered up 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, a fast-paced, beautifully written punch to the gut. Add in John McIlveen’s brutally satisfying revenge story 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘪𝘭, and you’ve got a lineup that will get anyone into the Halloween spirit. This book leans more toward fun, light-to-medium frights than soul-crushing terror, but if you're looking for the ultimate October read to kick off the month, this anthology is a total blast. 🎃
That said, the high points are absolute bangers. Trisha J. Woolridge’s 𝘕𝘰 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 came close to being a favorite of mine because it’s a really creepy ghost story that entails human cruelty is far scarier than any spectre. Jeff Strand brought his signature biting sarcasm in 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺, which had me cackling like a witch over a cauldron while still giving me chills. The heavy-hitter pairings also crushed it: Christopher Golden and Brian Keene joined forces for 𝘐'𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘐𝘵 to drop a killer modern spin on Samhain traditions, while Richard and Billy Chizmar (two of my favorite authors, by the way. Read their books if you haven’t already!!) offered up 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, a fast-paced, beautifully written punch to the gut. Add in John McIlveen’s brutally satisfying revenge story 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘪𝘭, and you’ve got a lineup that will get anyone into the Halloween spirit. This book leans more toward fun, light-to-medium frights than soul-crushing terror, but if you're looking for the ultimate October read to kick off the month, this anthology is a total blast. 🎃
October 1, 2022
These Halloween themed short stories were really fun to read. Highly recommend reading alone in the dark. If you're looking for a fast read that will deliver the fun Halloween vibes, check this out.
October 20, 2023
Halloween Nights: Tales of Autumn Fright is an excellent, high-quality selection of Halloween themed tales. Most such anthologies are a toss-up, some good, some okay, some forgettable. All of these stories are very well-written and memorable. I've read quite a few Halloween anthologies over the years, and I rank this one among the best. While all the stories deserve to be read some are really haunting, be they of folk horror, human evil, ghosts, revenge or sorrow. I can single out Bracken MacLeod's tale of colonial persecution, "A Narrative Concerning The Trial of Abigail Pierce For Witchcraft Published To Prevent False Reports: A Fable"; Dan Brereton and James A. Moore's campfire story "Kettle"; Moore's own Beldam Woods haunting "The Cemetery on Blackwell Road"; V. Castro's phantasmagoric "Marigolds for Flesh"; Jeff Strand's chillingly, wicked "My Favorite Halloween Memory"; Mary SanGiovanni's creepy, near Lovecraftian "Hannah"; and Trisha J. Wooldridge's take on the haunted house "No One Will Believe You." A few of these writers were new to me but their stories urge me to look for other work of theirs. Halloween Nights is a Halloween anthology that needs to be read; do so.
October 18, 2021
Creepy!
October 8, 2021
A nice selection of stories just in time for Halloween.
October 21, 2021
As far as short stoies go, this was better than most.
October 13, 2022
I read James A. Moore's short story collection This is Halloween years ago. While it wasn't my favorite Halloween read, his 2021 anthology featuring prominent horror writers caught my eye. Halloween Nights: Tales of Autumn Fright features 13 original stories centered around autumn's scariest night.
"The Trial of Abigail Pierce" by Bracken MacLeod
Set in the 1600s, Abigail and her daughter are accused of witchcraft. I've seen this concept before and it felt pretty predictable and barely related to Halloween. 2/5
"I'm Not Gonna Make It" by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene
A father internally struggles to reconnect with his estranged son on Halloween, but gets into a car accident. I liked the nuanced and complex emotions taking precedent over the horror. And the supernatural element was original and cool. 4/5
"Kettle" by Dan Brereton and James A. Moore
A group of kids tell ghost stories with one involving a ghost called Kettle who attacks those stealing crops from a nearby farm. I liked the classic Halloween campfire story aspect, though it felt predictable. 3/5
"The Cemetery On Blackwell Road" by James A. Moore
In the town of Bedlam Woods, boy wakes up in the cemetery, but can't remember how he got there. Meanwhile, he's trying to uncover how his friend disappeared. I liked the intrigue and simplicity of the story. It read like a classic coming-of-age Halloween story with a combination of magic and fright. 5/5
"Marigolds For Flesh" by V. Castro
A woman who is part demon gets summoned on Dia de los Muertos. As much as I liked the concept, I wasn't a fan of the structure and found the supernatural element hard to follow. 2/5
"Beneath The Veil" by John McIlveen
A woman takes her son trick-or-treating and they meet another mother and son who leads her to a street she wanted to forget. I loved the humor, the atmosphere, and the classic ghost story. It's a perfect Halloween read. 5/5
"Mr. Flexxo Discontinued" by Sheri Sebastian-Gabriel
I had no idea what was going on here with a retired superhero. While some of the background Halloween details were interesting, it was difficult to understand and I don't like superheroes. 1/5
"My Favorite Halloween Memory" by Jeff Strand
A killer shares his favorite Halloween memory. At first I thought this was one of those personal essays similar to my favorite Halloween anthology October Dreams, but I liked how it shifted in fiction. 5/5
"Stains" by Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar
Two police detectives investigate the murders of three children on Halloween night. I liked the minimalist approach in telling the story only through dialogue. It also had a great twist. 5/5
"Hannah" by Mary SanGiovanni
A woman mysteriously goes missing, but returns on Halloween not as herself. The premise and writing grabbed me. Although I wished there was a little more of an explanation of the supernatural element, I like that you have to read in between the lines. 4/5
"Night Boy" by Erick Nunnally
A boy assumes a superhero persona after having his candy stolen years ago on Halloween. Although I'm not big on superheroes, I liked the theme of redemption and empowerment and the trick-or-treating bullies made for a fun read. 4/5
"No One Will Believe You" by Trisha J. Wooldridge
A girl joins her brother and his friends to explore the local haunted house in the neighborhood. I liked the classic coming-of-age story and how themes of sexual trauma with the protagonist tied into the ghost story. 4/5
"Rawhead" by Hillary Monahan
A mother seeks to protect her son from a child-eating hobgoblin known as Rawhead. While I appreciated the concept and creepy details, for whatever reason this story didn't engage me as much and it has no reference to Halloween. 3/5
Given the start to the anthology, I thought was in for another disappointing Halloween book. However, Halloween Nights surprised me. While there are a few duds, I liked and loved majority of the stories. It's a book I'd revisit again each October.
3.5 stars
"The Trial of Abigail Pierce" by Bracken MacLeod
Set in the 1600s, Abigail and her daughter are accused of witchcraft. I've seen this concept before and it felt pretty predictable and barely related to Halloween. 2/5
"I'm Not Gonna Make It" by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene
A father internally struggles to reconnect with his estranged son on Halloween, but gets into a car accident. I liked the nuanced and complex emotions taking precedent over the horror. And the supernatural element was original and cool. 4/5
"Kettle" by Dan Brereton and James A. Moore
A group of kids tell ghost stories with one involving a ghost called Kettle who attacks those stealing crops from a nearby farm. I liked the classic Halloween campfire story aspect, though it felt predictable. 3/5
"The Cemetery On Blackwell Road" by James A. Moore
In the town of Bedlam Woods, boy wakes up in the cemetery, but can't remember how he got there. Meanwhile, he's trying to uncover how his friend disappeared. I liked the intrigue and simplicity of the story. It read like a classic coming-of-age Halloween story with a combination of magic and fright. 5/5
"Marigolds For Flesh" by V. Castro
A woman who is part demon gets summoned on Dia de los Muertos. As much as I liked the concept, I wasn't a fan of the structure and found the supernatural element hard to follow. 2/5
"Beneath The Veil" by John McIlveen
A woman takes her son trick-or-treating and they meet another mother and son who leads her to a street she wanted to forget. I loved the humor, the atmosphere, and the classic ghost story. It's a perfect Halloween read. 5/5
"Mr. Flexxo Discontinued" by Sheri Sebastian-Gabriel
I had no idea what was going on here with a retired superhero. While some of the background Halloween details were interesting, it was difficult to understand and I don't like superheroes. 1/5
"My Favorite Halloween Memory" by Jeff Strand
A killer shares his favorite Halloween memory. At first I thought this was one of those personal essays similar to my favorite Halloween anthology October Dreams, but I liked how it shifted in fiction. 5/5
"Stains" by Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar
Two police detectives investigate the murders of three children on Halloween night. I liked the minimalist approach in telling the story only through dialogue. It also had a great twist. 5/5
"Hannah" by Mary SanGiovanni
A woman mysteriously goes missing, but returns on Halloween not as herself. The premise and writing grabbed me. Although I wished there was a little more of an explanation of the supernatural element, I like that you have to read in between the lines. 4/5
"Night Boy" by Erick Nunnally
A boy assumes a superhero persona after having his candy stolen years ago on Halloween. Although I'm not big on superheroes, I liked the theme of redemption and empowerment and the trick-or-treating bullies made for a fun read. 4/5
"No One Will Believe You" by Trisha J. Wooldridge
A girl joins her brother and his friends to explore the local haunted house in the neighborhood. I liked the classic coming-of-age story and how themes of sexual trauma with the protagonist tied into the ghost story. 4/5
"Rawhead" by Hillary Monahan
A mother seeks to protect her son from a child-eating hobgoblin known as Rawhead. While I appreciated the concept and creepy details, for whatever reason this story didn't engage me as much and it has no reference to Halloween. 3/5
Given the start to the anthology, I thought was in for another disappointing Halloween book. However, Halloween Nights surprised me. While there are a few duds, I liked and loved majority of the stories. It's a book I'd revisit again each October.
3.5 stars
October 12, 2022
James A. Moore has put together an excellent collection of Halloween flavored stories perfect for October reading. There's not a weak story in the bunch, but my favorites include:
"Kettle" by Dan Brereton and Moore himself. A spooky, traditional (and I don't mean that in a bad way) ghost story of young kids who get in over their heads when checking out a local urban legend. I could have done without the animal death though.
"The Cemetery on Blackwell Road" also by Moore. This is a haunting, heartbreaking story of a missing young girl and a friend who wants desperately to bring her back, if only for one night. The horrors here aren't ghosts or the mysterious witch, but real life tragedies and the bad things people do to each other. One of my favorites in the collection and my favorite work yet by Moore.
"Marigolds For Flesh" by V. Castro. Castro has never let me down, and this tale about an ancient creature who answers calls on Dia de los Muertos.
"My Favorite Halloween Memory" by Jeff Strand. This short and humorous tale is probably the best thing I've read by Strand yet. One of my favorites.
"Stains" by Richard and Billy Chizmar. A story told in dialogue about two cops investigating a triple murder of three children on Halloween night. The way this story was written was very unique and helped elevate it to one of my favorites in the collection.
"Night Boy" by Errick Nunnally. A boy dressed up as his favorite superhero becomes the hero his neighborhood needs.
"Rawhead" by Hilary Monahan. A tale of an Appalachian legend who eats little children and takes up residence in one desperate mother's stairway closet one night. What will she do and sacrifice to save her son?
The book is also sprinkled through with illustrations by Brereton (who also did the cover), one of my favorite current artists. If you're looking for a fun read to get you into the seasonal mood, don't miss Halloween Nights!
"Kettle" by Dan Brereton and Moore himself. A spooky, traditional (and I don't mean that in a bad way) ghost story of young kids who get in over their heads when checking out a local urban legend. I could have done without the animal death though.
"The Cemetery on Blackwell Road" also by Moore. This is a haunting, heartbreaking story of a missing young girl and a friend who wants desperately to bring her back, if only for one night. The horrors here aren't ghosts or the mysterious witch, but real life tragedies and the bad things people do to each other. One of my favorites in the collection and my favorite work yet by Moore.
"Marigolds For Flesh" by V. Castro. Castro has never let me down, and this tale about an ancient creature who answers calls on Dia de los Muertos.
"My Favorite Halloween Memory" by Jeff Strand. This short and humorous tale is probably the best thing I've read by Strand yet. One of my favorites.
"Stains" by Richard and Billy Chizmar. A story told in dialogue about two cops investigating a triple murder of three children on Halloween night. The way this story was written was very unique and helped elevate it to one of my favorites in the collection.
"Night Boy" by Errick Nunnally. A boy dressed up as his favorite superhero becomes the hero his neighborhood needs.
"Rawhead" by Hilary Monahan. A tale of an Appalachian legend who eats little children and takes up residence in one desperate mother's stairway closet one night. What will she do and sacrifice to save her son?
The book is also sprinkled through with illustrations by Brereton (who also did the cover), one of my favorite current artists. If you're looking for a fun read to get you into the seasonal mood, don't miss Halloween Nights!
September 19, 2023
One of the first "Halloween" anthologies I've read this year (but is still waiting for Chizmar's "October Screams - A Halloween Anthology" from amazon.)
"Halloween Nights" is a collection of 13 stories, centered around All Hallows. Authors include James Moore, Jeff Strand, Brian Keene, and Richard and Billy Chizmar.
My favorite stories in this volume include "Kettle" where a group of local children encounter a ghostly urban legend, "The Cemetery on Blackwell Road" wherein a boy makes a wish to find his friend who disappeared. Most amusing story was Strand's "My Favorite Halloween Memory", in which a serial murderer has the tables turned on him.....SanGiovanni's "Hannah" - where a missing wife returns after two weeks - but is not the same woman..is an excellent little chiller....."No One Will Believe You" (Wooldridge) concerns a local haunted house - haunted by the spirit of a young woman thought to be mentally disturbed..but the real reason is far darker...
So buy this book....oh - the interior art is impressive as well.
Jeff McIntosh
"Halloween Nights" is a collection of 13 stories, centered around All Hallows. Authors include James Moore, Jeff Strand, Brian Keene, and Richard and Billy Chizmar.
My favorite stories in this volume include "Kettle" where a group of local children encounter a ghostly urban legend, "The Cemetery on Blackwell Road" wherein a boy makes a wish to find his friend who disappeared. Most amusing story was Strand's "My Favorite Halloween Memory", in which a serial murderer has the tables turned on him.....SanGiovanni's "Hannah" - where a missing wife returns after two weeks - but is not the same woman..is an excellent little chiller....."No One Will Believe You" (Wooldridge) concerns a local haunted house - haunted by the spirit of a young woman thought to be mentally disturbed..but the real reason is far darker...
So buy this book....oh - the interior art is impressive as well.
Jeff McIntosh
October 24, 2021
This was a really nice halloween collection. There were one or two that I didn't love, but most of the short stories were pretty good and there were definitely a few standouts for me.
"I'm Not Going to Make it" and "The Cemetery on Blackwell Road" were probably my favorites
"Kettle "and "No One Will Believe You" really captured that halloween feel for me. "Hannah" and "Night Boy" were also standouts for me. Perfect for this time of year.
"I'm Not Going to Make it" and "The Cemetery on Blackwell Road" were probably my favorites
"Kettle "and "No One Will Believe You" really captured that halloween feel for me. "Hannah" and "Night Boy" were also standouts for me. Perfect for this time of year.
July 21, 2022
Get in the Halloween spirit with this grab bag of tasty tales.
September 17, 2024
A great anthology with several outright brilliant tales and one unalloyed masterpiece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2024
Eh, it was okay.
October 22, 2024
This seemed like the right time of year for a book of horror stories. These are fine stories - nothing outstanding, but perfect for an evening in front of the jack-o-lantern with a cup of hot cider.
February 13, 2025
Nice selection of original stories. My favorites in this book are the trial of Abigail Pierce, my favorite Halloween memory, and raw head.
October 23, 2025
Considering the name on the book's cover and those in the TOC, I expected an excellent anthology. Instead, I got too many stories that didn't work for me. Just okay. Disappointing.
October 27, 2025
🧻💩💩💩🚽
DNF AT 50pgs
DNF AT 50pgs
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