Publisher – Dark Moon Books

Published – Out Now

Price – £13.95 paperback £4.49 Kindle eBook

The +Horror Library+ anthologies are internationally praised as a groundbreaking source of contemporary horror short fiction stories--relevant to the moment and stunning in impact--from leading authors of the macabre and darkly imaginative.

Filled with Fears and Fantasy. Death and Dark Dreams. Monsters and Mayhem. Literary Vision and Wonder. Each volume of the +Horror Library+ series is packed with heart-pounding thrills and creepy contemplations as to what truly lurks among the shadows of the world(s) we live in.

Containing 31 all-original stories, read Volume 8 in this ongoing anthology series, and then continue with the other volumes.

Shamble no longer through the banal humdrum of normalcy, but ENTER THE HORROR LIBRARY!

A good anthology looking for the best stories for me needs to offer variety, not just great stories but highlight whatever the genre it is exploring is now capable of. The classical and more familiar types of tales combined with the newer frontiers of a genre that show its still a creative force moving forward. I am very happy to report that Horror Library Volume 8 edited by Eric J Guignard offers a east of great horror to enjoy and a host of new names to pay attention to.

Among the many tales that I enjoyed were

Rides by Eric Del Carlo – A businessman spends the day in his old neighbourhood and finds himself crossing paths with all his old vehicles. I really liked how this story moves from a strange series of coincidences and a reminder how vehicles reflect milestones in our lives to an ever-darkening sense of what may lie in our main character’s past. A very impressive series.

Only The Stones Will Hear You Scream by R A Busby – this story works very much on one of my pet fears claustrophobia of tight spaces. Our main character a young student haunted by his bullying parent is persuaded to go caving and gets stuck. The tension and escalation of threats alongside the revisiting of childhood torment is mixed beautifully and powerfully.

Mr Hunnicutt by Bentley Little - a very strange tale of a young couple trying to scrape by staying at a guest house. They discover the mysterious lodger known as Mr Hunicutt a strange creature who holds power over the house and they cross swords and soon find Mr Hunicutt doesn’t take that well and will follow them wherever they then go. A fanatic mix of the funny and creepy.

Leise Meither Speaks To The Living by Octavia Cade – Another impressive tale of the woman who helped discover nuclear fission and her legacy leading to nuclear weapons and also promoting peace. A woman who saw her fair share of war and haunted by the deaths on her conscience. A fine tale that tells us a less well known part of history and a exploration of science’s darker side made this a compelling read.

Line by Lauren O’Donoghue – a widow goes to a desolate seaside town. She finds a fortune teller who offers her a second chance but there is a very strong price to be paid. Lovely character work but the delivery of the sting catches your breath.

Solace by Anna Ziegelhof – An introverted It expert opts for a sensible remote well paid job but the new employer’s office are empty and you’re not allowed to look at other inhabitants. I loved the insight into our main character and her slow realisation she is a nightmare that will be hard to escape. The lack of explanation makes the tale more foreboding.

H Is For Hunt by Steve Rasnic Tem – a tale that mixes modern day relationships with the idea of the Wild Hunt and also has a lead character who knows her own mind. Delightfully strange and works neatly a the end.

Mazu – Goddess of the Sea by Ai Jiang – Loved this strange tale of a fisherman who yearns to drown, and the sea spirit fascinated by him. We slowly understand why our character feels so unhappy and the outcome looks uncertain. Haunting and bittersweet despite the disturbing core theme.

Hymns In The Dark by Gordon Grice – A powerfully strange tale of a farmer who wakes up and the world seems just wrong. He and his wife go to Church and find the world increasingly weird and unusual. The final scenes are incredibly disturbing and it made a lasting impression.

Holler Bridge by J L Hoy – A tale that deals with the difficult subject of suicide. Apparently, a bridge that draws people to it and their deaths. We watch our main character approach it and then things go strange. Unique as this tale explains what happened in an unusual and fascinating way.

Unwind by Christopher O’Halloran - a father loves to escape his family by using the toilet for some quiet time. Then a voice starts to talk to him from the loo! It takes the idea of parents wishing for a moment of peace and turns it into a memorable horror encounter. Very well delivered.

Girlskin by Clara Madrigano – a wonderfully strange dark fairytale of a young girl told early on she is a werewolf. We follow her growing up clinging to this hope and her life is full of ups and downs. This all leads to a powerful and very beautiful conclusion and one of my favourites in the collection.

Clay by Colin Leonard – a school secretary is tricked into a nasty school prank. This simple moment sets up a terrifying tale as things go from bad to terrible and moves from simple cruelty of a child to something much darker and more powerful.

We Can’t Let go by Sheldon Higdon – a very eerie troubling tale of a social worker who meets a child and their mother. The encounter is from the off immediately not feeling right but then Leonard adds an even darker dimension. Pure horror.

Fell Mill by Charlie Hughes – A powerful folk horror tale that takes a tale of a strange ghost in a field and slowly overlays it with our narrator’s harsh childhood and crueller father. These two elements slowly intertwine and the tale doesn’t explain everything which makes it weird and powerful in all the best ways.

A very impressive collection and a special shout out the eerie art of Jane Heidersdorf that illustrates the stories beautifully. A very fine horror collection well worth your time and I’m very impressed with the range of tales that have been curated.