Book picks similar to
Sideshow by Samie Sands


horror
anthologies
anthology
short-er-stories

Big Bad


David Brian - 2014
    Over time he has learned to accept his confinement. After all, it is no more than he deserves given the heinous nature of his previous crimes. However, when a new member of the nursing staff begins taking an interest in Tommy, he learns things previously kept from him: Like why he is being permanently dosed with meds. How, and why, his parents really died. And is it just a coincidence his earlier crimes occurred at the time of a full moon? Nurse Jenny informs Tommy about the true nature of his world: Secret Government cabals, and their plans for a New World Order; the murder of his parents, and facing up to the reality of his life as a werewolf. Then, when she thinks he is ready, she tells him the biggest secret of all: Nurse Jenny has a way out of Broad-lands. But, as is often the case, nothing comes without a price. What is the real motivation for her aiding Tommy's escape? A tale of horror that unfolds beneath the light of a full moon.

Eye of Fear


Lauren AlgeoJalpa Williby - 2016
    Award-winning and best-selling authors from across the genre spectrum join forces in this edgy collection. These deliciously frightening and reflective tales of phobias will cause your heart to race and your body to perspire. ***ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS ANTHOLOGY WILL BE DONATED TO THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)*** Experimental by Lauren Algeo: Four people, four boxes, one nightmare. There's no way out for Michael, Heidi, Sabina and Jace, and no escape from their own minds. Do they have the mental strength to withstand insanity? The First Step by Marisa Oldham & Angie Martin: Following a terrifying ordeal, Adele has wrapped herself up in the comfort of her own home for the past four years. Can one man bring her the courage she needs to take the first step into a new world? A Mind’s Undoing by Sloane Kady: Inside Kate lived a fear so profound even sanity couldn't reason with it and reality couldn't shake it from its foundation. When her greatest fear comes knocking, will she recognize it, or will it push her farther into a world of her mind's making? Mark of Deceit by Glede Browne Kabongo: Ambitious career girl Natalie Grainger Fox is in for the fight of her life when she becomes the unwilling recipient of a computer flash drive that could bring about the collapse of her employer—a global powerhouse that may be guilty of financial fraud and cold-blooded murder. Unreal by Shay Lynam: When a glitch in the system traps three teens inside a virtual reality, they must band together and face their worst fears in hopes of finding a way out. Jezebel’s Embrace by Heather Osborne: With an abusive mother dominating every aspect of her life, Lilith has grown to fear intimacy and touch. When she finally manages to escape, the death of a kindly lady draws her back. Will Lilith learn to conquer her fear, or will it consume her, mind and soul? Heaven’s Hell by Sandy Richards: Ernie had a devil of a time with life; nevertheless, salvation came calling surrounded by hellish circumstances. Touch of the Untouchables by Jalpa Williby: Zak has only known one way of life: stay inside the wall. When a forbidden excursion goes wrong, he meets up with an enemy of unknown danger. In facing his worst fear, he is forced to question everything that has been his world and determine his own reality.

Twisted: Volume 1


Christina Palmer RomeroKaren Sheard - 2016
    Reading it is like attending a late night secret banquet where you know each course will serve up something unexpected, forbidden and unforgettably chilling. Take your private seat now for 50 luscious courses of terror, from 50 of the strongest voices in modern horror.

Cookham To Cannes: The South of France - Lobsters & Lunatics


Brent Tyler
    Deciding that taking a leap into the unknown was better than making no decision at all, they borrowed a little money from some good friends, packed up their belongings and headed to a mobile home site just outside Cannes. Whilst there, they would look for work with the hope of settling in the region. What no one bothered to tell France’s newest arrivals was that the people they were about to be interviewed by and eventually work for were all blisteringly, yet deliciously mad. Whilst minding his own business in the garden belonging to one of these certifiable lunatics, Brent gets adopted by a dog with his own obsession, maintaining the author's theory that sanity is an extremely rare commodity in the south of France.

32 Minutes


Zach Kraft - 2018
    Fielding an ICBM wasn't one of them... INAUGURATION DAY, IN THE NEAR FUTURE: A young and optimistic president-elect shivers in the cold, waiting for the ordeal to be over. Little does she realize, the ordeal hasn't even begun. Shortly after she takes the oath, the proceedings are interrupted with shocking news: the U.S. military has detected the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The death toll, should the weapon strike the United States: upwards of 10 million people. Her advisers warn her that there are rules to this game, ones that must be followed if there's to be any hope of avoiding global nuclear war. Adding to the problem: buried in a bunker, and surrounded by career professionals with agendas of their own, she has no idea what to believe about the conditions unfolding topside. Soon she learns that the loneliest person on the planet is the one who's trying to save billions from annihilation. An explosive, fast-paced novella from the author of The Counting series.

The Box Under The Bed


Dan AlatorreHeather Hackett - 2017
     And that’s just a quarter of the thrills. Edited and compiled by Amazon bestselling author Dan Alatorre, this anthology of scary tales brings together the minds and pens of twenty authors, including bestseller Allison Maruska (The Fourth Descendant), bestselling author Jenifer Ruff (Everett), Lucy Brazier (PorterGirl), J. A. Allen, Juliet Nubel, TA Henry, Ann Marie Andrus, Heather Hackett, Barbara Anne Helberg, Scott Skipper, Joanne R. Larner, Christine Valentor, Adele Marie Park, Curtis Bausse, Annette Robinson, Frank Parker, Eric Daniel Clarke, and Maribel C. Pagan. Perfect for Halloween or any time, these stories will make you think twice before walking alone on the beach at night, reading a diary, or innocently watching a train from your car. Consider yourselves warned. NOTE: Warning! American and British spelling ahead. A few stories words are olde English, too. The story The Death Of Mrs. Billen by Mr. Alatorre is from his novel An Angel On Her Shoulder, used with permission.

Beneath


Perrin Briar - 2018
     With the increasing disappearance of miners and a mysterious groan from deep under the earth, rumors begin to circulate of an ancient and deadly curse. When Mason’s friend goes missing, he leads the search for his good friend. He slips and falls, crashing into an old, disused segment of the pit. Surrounded by evil creatures in the pitch darkness, can he find his way out to warn the locals? Or will the monsters escape and wreak havoc before he gets the chance? Enjoy this thrilling page-turner FREE now! **Includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the best-selling post-apocalyptic series Resistant!**

Resurrection of Liberty


Michael L. Wentz - 2005
    . . a solid, rollicking, fast paced, easy to read story." -- TheMartianSite.com". . . an original, deftly written, and thoroughly entertaining novel of action and adventure which can be enthusiastically recommended . . ." -- Midwest Book Review"Adventurous science fiction that takes you back to the days of Robert A. Heinlein . . ." -- firebringer.blogspot.comProduct DescriptionIn 'Resurrection of Liberty' Daniel Foster discovers a family secret that is so shocking, it will affect the future of the entire galaxy. While on an innocent road trip with his two best friends, his grandfather’s old car, almost having a mind of its own, whisks the trio out of the confines of their home planet to a cloaked starship that has remained hidden behind the moon for over fifty years. In trying to return home the three friends plunge deeper into space ultimately meeting the race that had sent his grandfather to Earth on a critical mission a generation before. Yet, to their dismay, they learn that by awakening the old ship they have hastened the peril of their own home. Now, far away from his family, Daniel must accept his destiny and dig deep inside himself to muster the confidence needed to rally his new alien friends to help save Earth—and ultimately the galaxy.From the Publisher- Perfect for all those who love action and adventure - Great for Young Adults An epic science fiction adventure for the 21st century 'Resurrection of Liberty' is written in the best tradition of the classics while still being fun, friendly, and accessible to those new to genre. Young adult friendly and packed with enough action and adventure to spare 'Resurrection of Liberty' is a remarkably entertaining read for anyone who enjoys high drama, sympathetic characters, and a look into a world where courage is the key to survival and the future is just around the corner

Restless Spirits Boxset (Meade Mansion #1-3; Riley Watson #0-2)


Skylar Finn - 2019
    a mansion overlooking a bluff... an unsolved murder that has gone too far. The Haunting of Meade Mansion (1,2,3) One couple must unearth the secrets of a small-town murder before it's too late. Emily thought she was leaving her money troubles behind when she inherited an old house from her great aunt who went missing the previous year. When she and her husband Jesse arrive at the house, they discover Aunt Matilda was murdered--and the culprit is still at large. Guided by the ghosts of Matilda and the orphans she raised, Emily and Jesse must catch the criminal and save themselves before it's too late. The Haunting of Riley Watson (1,2,3) by Alexandria Clarke When Lucia Star, a fake psychic and desperate for cash, takes a job at a ski lodge in the mountains of Vermont, she ends up in the middle of a real-life haunting. Soon, the ghosts are out in full force, and Lucia is stunned to discover she’s one of only two people who can communicate with them. Can Lucia give the spirits what they want?

Bone Meal Broth


Adam Cesare - 2012
    Bone Meal Broth adds a few more.The nine stories in this collection vary in style and content, but all of them strive to unsettle.Inside Bone Meal Broth you'll meet a P.I. who works the dark streets of a post-biological-cataclysm New Orleans, a sleazy glamor photographer with a pest problem, and a misanthrope who's just made the most important (and deadly) purchase of his life. And those are the heroes.You'll visit the grotesque inhabitants of America's backwoods and shrink from the quiet terrors of suburbia. No matter your dark preference: a cup of Bone Meal Broth will hit the spot.

Secret Stairs: A Tribute to Urban Legend


Russell S. NewquistWilliam Lehman - 2018
    No sign remains of any other structure around them, no ruins of long forgotten buildings. They look... wrong. They feel wrong. Bad things happen if you get too close. Horrible things.You must never, ever ever talk about them.Thirty-four of today's best up and coming writers provide wonderfully unique interpretations inspired by the urban legends of the Internet age. Tales range from science fiction to fantasy, horror to mystery, and one writer even penned a romance!But you must never tell anyone about the stairs!Containing the stories:* Nothing Ever Happens Here by Richard Paolinelli* Star Thistle by J. Comer* Let Him In by Josh Dygert* A New Trail Off Of Old King?s Highway by Michael Reyes* The Strange Stairs at the Aldebourne Estate by Kristen Brand* Exclusive Scoop by J. Trevor Robinson* The Flash-Back Stairs: A Story of Betrayal by Patrick T. Luce* The Peacock House by Matthew Pegg* Where The Wood Thrush Sings by NB Williams* The Refuge by Dawn Witzke* Upon The Stair by Daniel Humphreys* Grand Staircase to the Yellow Court by R.C. Mulhare* Another Dead Man?s Curve by Chris Ingram* Game Warden by Russell Newquist* Stepping Stones by Jarrett Mazza* Reap Dance by James G. Hancock* Descending Stairs, 1699 by Meghan Casey* Where Angels Fear to Tread by Michelle Mellon* Sobek's Staircase by Jeremy Megargee* The Curses We Carry by Russell Mahon* Stranger?s Wood by J.S. Arroyo* Stairway Back to Jonathan's Farm by Dan Allen* The Thirteenth Step by MJ Mars* Cajun Ray by S.D. McPhail* W/M by Isobel Horsburgh* The Sentinel by Richard W. Watts* Sleep, Child by A.G. Lopes* The Lost Ones by Karen Thrower* Ready For Seven More by Christopher Lansdown* Fire and Pine by Bethany C. Gotschall* Stairway to? Where? by William Lehman* The Dead Always by Darren Todd* Missing Persons by Jonathan Bronico* Cedar Road by Mocha Pennington

Under The Safe House & Other Stories


Matt Shaw - 2019
    Until now, those stories have been unpublished and unavailable for others to read but - due to popular demand - he has compiled them in this collection. Included within this collection: Some Drabbles To Get You Started Under The Safe House (novella) Room To Breathe (novella) The First Cuddle (short story) Santa’s Secret (short story) Smoking Kills (short story) Needles (short story) Cold (short story) Sleeping Dogs (short story) Ugly (short story) About the author: Matt Shaw is the published author, and film director, of over 200 stories including his infamous black cover range of extreme horrors. In those titles he is known for pushing boundaries and has been nominated for multiple awards within the "splatterpunk" genre but do not be fooled - Shaw isn't only capable of writing the extremes. His dark psychological horrors are known for getting under the skin of the readers, causing both sleepless nights and restless dreams... PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR “There is a ferocity about Matt Shaw's writing that is both welcome and also necessary when it comes to horror.” - Shaun Hutson, author of "Slugs" Categories for "UNDER THE SAFE HOUSE & OTHER STORIES" - Horror - Psychological Fiction - Depression - Grief - Bullying - Suspense horror

Here Be Monsters: An Anthology of Monster Tales


Samantha Anderson - 2011
    Murphy - Blackmail. S.M. Reine - Something Wrong. India Drummond - The Reaver. Anabel Portillo - Lux. Jeremy C. Shipp - Figs. Samantha Anderson - Deals and Demons. Sara Reinke - Periphery People. M.T. Murphy - Spider Bag.

Conflicted Innocence (The Cold Case Files #2)


Netta Newbound
     Lee Barnes, James’ best friend and neighbour, is awaiting the imminent release of his wife, Lydia, who has served six years for infanticide. But he’s not as prepared as he thought. In a last ditch effort to make things as perfect as possible his already troubled life takes a nose dive. Geraldine and James combine their wits to investigate several historical, unsolved murders for James’ latest book. James is impressed by her keen eye and instincts. However, because of her inability to keep her mouth shut, Geri, once again, finds herself the target of a crazed and vengeful killer.

Bears of Rocky Top: Complete Trilogy


Harper Maguire - 2019
     Part One: Bears in Underwear Olivia - I never intended to drive through this part of Colorado to begin with. It was a total fluke. But when a stop for gas in the tiny town of Rocky Top leads me to a male butt more perfect than I have ever seen before, I decide its fate. After all, I’m in Colorado to shoot an ad campaign for Tight Buns Underwear. If anyone needs the perfect butt, it’s me. Del - I have never bothered to look at an underwear ad and I definitely never considered the possibility of being in one. But that was before Olivia Talpin came stomping into my life. She ramrods my family’s outfitting company and soon enough we are all dancing to her tune and setting up photo shoots all over the mountain. That girl is lucky she’s so dang cute or I might be tempted to show her just how grouchy a bear can be. Part Two: Bearing All Trip - There is nothing more useless than a magazine article. Can’t say I’ve ever looked at one myself. Even worse is the fact that I have been elected—as the most personable member of the Olsen family—to be interviewed by a female writer staying in one of the cabins down by the river. Who ever heard of a woman writing articles and ads for a fishing magazine anyway? But Kiesha isn’t like anyone I’ve has ever met. The woman loves to fish, enjoys the outdoors, and doesn’t seem interested in much else. Not even me. Kiesha - There is no doubt in my mind that Trip Olsen is the most full of it man that I have ever met. But the guy knows fishing. For now, I figure it’s in my best interest to put up with Trip until he shows me the secret behind choosing just the right bait for mountain trout. After that the guy is history. The funny thing is that the longer I spend with Trip, the more I get the feeling he is the most intriguing person Iwill ever meet. Part Three: Grin and Bear It Lilly - I am sick and tired of bears. I’m tired of Rocky Top and conspiracy theories about rival bear clans and all of the other nonsense that goes along with being part of a family that seems to have gotten stuck back in the days of rival blood family feuds. I want something more. Painting is my passion and I don't care if I have to sneak onto Olsen property to get the one view that I have been dying to paint for years. Jared - Catching Lilly Mandeville trespassing on Olsen land might just be the best thing that ever happened to me. I have about as much interest in being a fishing guide as Lilly does in being a hunting guide. It doesn’t seem to matter to either one of us that our families might be horrified by this strange new friendship. Then me and Lilly happen upon something else. Something that will explain all of the strange animosity between our families and show everyone that it’s not the bears you have to worry about. It’s the wolves.