Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Single Author/Horror Short Stories
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Synopsis:
Purgatory is said to be a place where dying souls go to be punished for sins. For the superstitious, the number 13 symbolizes suffering and death. When the two are combined, it leaves us with this question: Is death the end or is it only the beginning?
In the spirit of the dark masters of horror, King, Laymon, Little, and Keene, comes a collection of short stories of the bizarre and the macabre.
One story begins in the name of research when a world-famous horror author spends the night in one of the most notorious haunted houses in America - Ritter House - only to discover that reality is much more horrific than fiction.
In Road Trip, a man must travel across state lines to identify his brother’s dead body and drive him home in the back of his car to a mortuary run by a dead man.
In Tic Toc, a man has two hours to prevent a catastrophe in the building where his wife works, only he can’t recall how or why. His only clue is the nightmare he had hours earlier.
Christmas will never be the same for a little boy in Santa Claws, and an old wooden box in a warehouse carries a story all its own in The Crate.
Each tale will hold each person accountable for their actions and ultimately lead them to a dark and unforgiving place much worse than the bounds of Purgatory.
Review:
"For those who believe, proof is not needed."
"Is death the beginning, the end, or does it take us to a place somewhere in between?"
These 13 Tales of the Macabre are all uniquely written and entertaining. The authors voice clearly shines through his writing craft.
Take a drive on Evergreen Road and find out what may just be waiting there as the darkness descends.
Go on a Road Trip that involves a dreadful mission to transport a deceased family member to a mortuary. Old, dark, and something sinister waiting within.
Meet a curmudgeonly old man in Mind Games as he journeys through his daily life. People, everywhere there are people, getting on his last nerves. Until, there is something that is just a little bit different. Something very unexpected that changes everything.
Tic Toc, time is ticking by, life is hanging on the edge of disaster and the reaper is waiting in the shadows. Is it all just a nightmare or a reality?
Weekend Visit., we all have them. Trips to spend time with family or friends. We often look forward to them, keeping in mind that we never know what to expect. A good time is expected. Relaxation wanted. Just watch out for the odd family member and the strange occurrences that are happening in the backyard.
Floor Four, the beginning introduction to "The Mangler". He will haunt your dreams!
Purgatory, utterly claustrophobic! Deep within where there is no light, no air, and no chance of escaping. I cannot breathe!!
Try to take a ride in the 2009 Cadillac DTS Sedan, once owned by Mildred Clarice Stone, her Prized Possession, now bequethed to one David R. Slater. Once you enter you may be surprised at what occurs within, especially in the back seat.
Do not, I repeat, do not open The Crate. Walk right on by and ignore it. Stop being so curious of what lies within. What lurks inside is not where you want to go. Resist the temptation, repent or there may be no escape.
When visiting a haunted house, one must always be prepared and tread carefully. Once the spirits have been disturbed there is no turning back from what has been unleashed. So enter if you dare into the dark corridors of Ritter House.
Kids will be kids and will not always make the best decisions, right or wrong. No matter what, all decisions have an outcome whether good or bad. And...sometimes what once was believed to be delightful may just be something entirely different. So my little lovelies, be good, or you may be visited by Santa Claws.
Everyone should always be wary of Strangers. One never knows what their intentions may be or if they are something more than what they appear to be. One must never tempt fate. Someone may be following you, and that someone may just be from another world.
Don't Bug Me. Stay away from me. You don't belong here. You're driving me mad and I can't get you out. No one believes me, why won't they listen? I have to get you out. "This is going to hurt."
"Death is something no one gets used to, and unfortunately, death will find us all when it's time."
With all short story collections, there are always going to be some that resonate with the reader more than others. I have learned to often look deeper and find that one special something that lies within each story. By the title alone, it is clear of the themes that all of these stories are centered on. No doubt that death and what lies beyond is something that crosses our minds at some point. It is easier to let it go and not dwell on it. These 13 tales provided my horror loving heart an escape into the fearful dark places and realms of purgatory.
I very much enjoyed reading this collection! Recommended, but it's up to you to decide.
Goodreads Author Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/
Amazon Author Link:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/A.-Lopez-Jr./author/
Author Website:
About the Author
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