by Lee Thomas
First published 2013
A young boy creeps toward his father's work shed, drawn by sounds he cannot identify. Inside, he finds his older brother engaged in something that will change everything he thought he knew about his family. Across twelve stories, ordinary people confront forces that defy explanation. A Victorian gentleman and his loyal dog face creatures that have slipped through from another realm, threatening to destroy everything. An elderly man possesses a single word that can drive anyone who hears it to complete madness. A suburban neighborhood becomes a battleground when one resident's religious fervor literally opens the gates of Hell, unleashing chaos on quiet streets and manicured lawns. Thomas crafts tales where the familiar world cracks open to reveal the terror beneath. Brothers hide unspeakable acts, neighbors become conduits for damnation, and whispered words carry the power to shatter minds. These twelve stories explore the moment when normal life collides with forces beyond human understanding.
Genres: short-stories, horror, supernatural, dark-fantasy
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: the-unknown, unreliable-narrator
266 pages · Paperback · Lethe Press
Content warnings: violence