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To Hell and Back: An Anthology of Horror edited by Joe Mynhardt

Cover art for To Hell and Back edited by Joe Mynhardt

To Hell and Back: An Anthology of Horror edited by Joe Mynhardt

HellBound Books, 2024

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1953905871

Available: Paperback, Kindle Edition

Buy: Bookshop.org  |  Amazon.com

 

 

Horror anthologies continue to be very popular, maybe because they provide a good showcase for both known and unknown authors trying their hand at the short story form, which, in my humble opinion, is a harder challenge than novels.

 

Here are my favorite stories in this particular book.

 

“Fix Her”, by Jeff Strand, is a fabulous mix of horror and humor, starting with a corpse on a bed and ending up  in a general mess, while “Bunny”, by Gregg Stewart, is an offbeat tale featuring two babysitters fighting about their right to take care of a strange little girl. Kenneth W Cain contributes “Steel Horses”, a tense piece of fiction inspired to the famous “Duel”, but with a distinctive horrific outcome. The offbeat, very enjoyable “Get John Flagg”, by James Aquilone, features a man whom suddenly everybody is trying to kill. Guess why…

 

“The Copper Thieves”, by Nick Roberts. is a strong example of graphic horror, set in a cemetery where a family mausoleum hides more secrets than expected. “Our New Church”, by James H. Longmore, is a well-told yarn that revolves around the arrival of a new pastor in a small town and the unexpected, surrealistic consequences.

 

This is not just any horror anthology, it is a very good one and provides excellent reading material to genre lovers.

 

Reviewed by Mario Guslandi

 

 

 

Posted on May 8, 2024 by , Reply

Book Review: Shallow Waters: A Flash Fiction Anthology: Special Halloween Edition edited by Joe Mynhardt

cover art for Shallow Waters: A Flash Fiction Anthology: Special Halloween Edition

Shallow Waters: A Flash Fiction Anthology; Special Halloween Edition Book 9 of 10) edited by Joe Mynhardt

Crystal Lake Publishing, 2022

ASIN:: B0BGYXGH4D

Available: Kindle edition ( Amazon.com )

 

Shallow Waters, a monthly flash fiction contest hosted by Crystal Lake Publishing, collects stories with different themes each month. This volume presents 18 pieces of flash fiction centered around Halloween. While I enjoyed all of the stories in this anthology, there are a some that stuck with me long after I finished the book.

 

William Meikle is one of my favorite genre writers, and his “Tumshie” is my top pick in in this book. A drunkard of an abusive father refuses to let his son have a Halloween pumpkin, rather insisting on a tumshie, a carved turnip. When John discovers the secret of the tumshie, he embraces his new tradition.

 

I enjoy stories that aren’t told in a typical format. Letters, newspaper articles, and diaries lend stories a more intimate feel. “West Pennfield Township Newsletter, October 2021” by Tom Coombe presents a, well, newsletter to the township regarding “simple rules” that the townspeople need to follow lest The Judges be awakened. Another story told in a unique format is Francesca Maria’s “How to Create the Perfect Pumpkin.” Carving a fresh pumpkin can be so exciting, but there is something about this list of instructions that doesn’t seem right.

 

In “I Want Candy” by Larry Hinkle, Erik’s addiction to candy leads him to do the unthinkable when his wife and child come home from a successful night of trick-or-treating.

 

Rick Whatley’s “Let the Darkness In” comes from the perspective of two parties. Four Class of 2022 high school seniors set out to kill a witch. Behind closed doors and still in mourning, Edith doesn’t know what is coming.

 

In “The Pumpkin Fetch” by Tom Deady, the Halloween traditional of a pumpkin thieving contest ends in a different kind of harvest.

 

The chaos of a Halloween party where parents and children are in attendance results in an urban legend becoming a reality in “One Parent Survives” by Wil Dalton.

 

I have only read a few flash fiction collections, and I am impressed with how some authors can evoke fear in a reader with few words. Because of the impact this anthology had on me, I will be reading other volumes in Shallow Waters. Recommended

 

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on December 18, 2022 by , Reply

Book Links: Stoker Awards 2018 Final Ballot for Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction

Well, we’ve come as close as we can to reviewing all the nominees in the category of Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction. We unfortunately were unable to acquire a copy of The Howling: Studies in the Horror Film by Lee Gambin. It looks like a gorgeous book, though, based on what I saw at the Centipede Press website. I encourage you to take a look, as it is difficult to acquire a copy.

Below are links to the reviews for the other nominees in the category of Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction.

 

Horror Express  by John Connolly

 

We Don’t Go Back: A Watcher’s Guide to Folk Horror  by Howard David Ingham, illustrated by Steven Horry

 

It’s Alive! Bringing Your Nightmares to Life  edited by Eugene Johnson and Joe Mynhardt

 

Uncovering Stranger Things: Essays on Eighties Nostalgia, Cynicism, and Innocence  edited by Kevin J. Wetmore, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on May 9, 2019 by , Reply
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