by Various Authors
“I chuckle to myself to keep from sobbing. It’s been over a year since I’ve seen my children.”
(from “Visitation Rights”)
A chapbook from Cemetery Dance containing 4 Christmas-themed short stories, Holiday Horrors is super-fast and is a great read at this time of year.
In no particular order:
“Stocking Stuffers” by Ray Garton is a bloody tale where a man recounts to a prostitute why he hates Christmas.
“Merry Christmas, Asshole” by Robert Brouhard is tale of revenge as a philanderer’s past exploits have returned to haunt him during the holidays.
“The Christmas Creep” by Glen Krisch deals with the daughter of a strung-out mother, the mother herself, the sweet old grandmother and the underlying evil in a decaying town where it’s always Christmas.
“Visitation Rights” by Kealan Patrick Burke is a heart-heavy story about a divorced man trying to reconcile with his two daughters over Christmas despite a long absence imposed by an embittered ex-wife. This one opens the book and steals the show.
This chapbook cost about $4 and is worth so much more. Every one is good, but don’t miss that Burke story (also found his collection, Dead of Winter).
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Always happy to hear from book lovers. Please feel free to comment!