Whispers in the Walls – A Unique Collection of Ghost Stories
Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean that the time for scary stories has passed. In fact, some people would say that that time never ends. The team at Tennessee Horror News is made up people who definitely hold that belief. The site covers nothing but horror movies, novels, games, and news. While the bulk of their output is made up of reviews and editorials, the team includes a handful of fiction writers as well. On Halloween, they announced the release of their first collaborative work of fiction Whispers in the Walls.
Whispers in the Walls contains eight original stories from six of the site’s writers. Among these writers are published authors Dan Lee, Isaac Thorne, and Bryce Gibson; all of which are known for their own brand of horror stories. The others are known mostly for their web content and podcast appearances. Despite a gap in experience, the quality of the stories is balanced.
The Tone
Because Whispers in the Walls is a collection of short stories from different authors, there isn’t a real cohesive tone. The thing that binds them together is that they all focus on ghosts and other paranormal events. It feels exactly like what it is: a handful of talented storytellers coming together to spin yarns.
The stories range from darkly humorous to haunting. For example, Isaac Thorne’s story Practical Ghosts is full of bloody slapstick that will change the way you think about those ghost hunting shows; at the same time Dan Lee’s Noir walks a line between a detective story and pure cosmic horror. The other tales of terror fall somewhere between the two.
The Stories
I’m going to do my best to avoid spoilers for any of the stories. I’ll just give you a quick synopsis of each one so you know what you’re getting into if you pick up a copy of this book.
The Stop Sign Man – Bryce Gibson
The Stop Sign Man is a story about how an urban legend comes to life for one small town teenager. There is some great tension here and what I feel is the introduction to a universe that I would love to see expanded upon.
Practical Ghosts – Isaac Thorne
Isaac Thorne is known for his brand of “dark comedic horror” and Practical Ghosts is a shining example of that. It tells the story of a pair of spirits inhabiting a rundown house owned by a slumlord. There are plenty of laughs scattered among the blood, tension, and revenge.
She was a Work of Art – Yeti
She Was a Work of Art follows a man who has spent his life chasing ghosts. His obsession leads him to scour the internet for cursed and haunted objects. When he gets what he is looking for he isn’t sure it’s really what he wants. This one has some interesting historical references sprinkled over the claustrophobic horror.
Noir – Dan Lee
I mentioned this one earlier. It’s a somewhere between a detective mystery and reality bending cosmic horror. Noir follows a grizzled ex-cop who is at the end of his rope. An entity from another reality ruins his Christmas plans and shows him a whole new world.
Retribution in Death – Angela McNichols
In Retribution in Death a woman with a history of mental illness is forced to confront her gas lighting mother and fiancé as she tries to determine if she is slipping into madness or haunted by some vile spirit.
Road Test – Dan Lee
Road Test is short and full of terrifying action. There’s plenty of blood, guts, beasts, and vengeful ghosts to fill an entire novel all packed into a handful of pages. I can’t say much more about it without spoiling the twist. Road Test is one hell of a ride.
The Deathless Shell – Tyler Dean
A taxidermist’s receives a beautiful white buck. Behind the snowy pelt hides a spirit bent on survival even if it means wiping out everything in its path. The Deathless Shell is dark, brooding, and will stick with you for a while.
The Visitation Room – Angela McNichols
The Visitation Room takes a look at the death of an abusive parent. Ghosts intertwine with grief to create a moving yet genuinely scary tale of acceptance and mourning.
The Verdict
Honestly, this is one hell of a read. Each of the stories takes its concept to the maximum. You may find yourself turning on an extra light after reading these tales. They are also unlike anything you’re going to find in a big bookstore, for now anyway. Right now, you can only find this book in one place. The price is right and the stories are worth every penny. Get your copy today and see what the Whispers in the Walls say to you.