Tag Archives: supernatural

August 4, 2025 · 7:00 am

Red Shadows at Saugatuck: The Haunted Shores Mysteries Series (Book 4) by Randy Overbeck (Book Spotlight)

Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo, has inherited his “gift.”

Now, they both can see ghosts.

Upon his parents’ insistence, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once they arrive in the resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—”Those girls run away all the time.” Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen.

Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and son in danger?

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Check out these raving reviews! 

“Red Shadows at Saugatuck is one of the finest books ever written, a paranormal mystery that stole my soul and took my breath away.” ★★★★★++ stars—N N Light Bookheaven
“Red Shadow at Saugatuck by Randy Overbeck was complex and captivating. I was mesmerized from the very first page right up to the last one.”— ReadersFavorite.com
“Red Shadows at Saugatuck is thoughtful, deeply human, and low-key terrifying in a quiet way.” ★★★★★ The Gold Award–Literary Titan
“Red Shadows at Saugatuck kept me turning pages well into the night…a gripping tale about finding justice for a Native American teen.”—John DeDakis, author of Fake and former senior editor for CNN “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer”
 
 
 
 
Check out the entire series!!  

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Meet the Author

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children in roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His novels have earned national awards including the Gold Award from Literary Titan, Thriller of the Year from Readers Favorite, Silver Award for Mystery of the Year from ReaderViews and Crown of Excellence from Ind’tale Magazine. Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences. His newest literary project is his new podcast, Great Stories about Great Storytellers, with the weird and unusual backstories of great storytellers like authors, directors and poets.  

 
 
 

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May 10, 2023 · 7:00 am

Invitation to a Nightmare: Short Stories of the Macabre by CLIVE OWEN BARRY (Book Review)

From the pen of Clive Owen Barry comes a collection of terror.

The likes of the repentant grave robber, to the single mother who inadvertently sought refuge in the home of a serial killer, or the wealthy wine merchant, possessed by the image of a beautiful woman.

Shadows that haunt the darkest corner of your imagination, to the violence inflicted by a deformed lunatic, severing body parts within the city slums.

These together with so many other gruesome tales of the macabre, can be found haunting the pages of this single volume of short stories, ready and eager to torment your peaceful slumber.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Invitation to a Nightmare houses a collection of haunting tales focusing on the unexplained, the unimaginable, and even plausible scenarios. 

While the synopsis states this is an anthology of short stories, that is not an accurate characterization of the contents. Five of the fourteen works read more like poems or one-page inner thoughts. “Nightmare” begins the collection and is a prime example of what I would consider a poem rather than a short tale. This poem and the others created will get your heart racing. They’ll have you flicking on lights, making you notice every noise in your home. They were frightfully well-constructed. The short stories, though, had a more profound effect on me. 

Serial killers are real. People are capable of horrendous, hideous acts of violence. “Does The Bogeyman Live Downstairs?” is a work of fiction, but the real possibility that such evil might reside in the world, might your neighbor amped up the fear factor of this story. Taxidermy always creeped me out before the story. My feelings regarding it have not changed. Thanks to this cringe-worthy story, I will never look at a stuffed animal the same way again. 

Another realistic story that gave me the shivers was “Dark Shadows.” How frightening it must be to question your own sanity. To discover that your nightmares have become a reality. I felt every bit of Claire’s anguish. Her pain was undeniable. I would commend her on her powerful performance if she were an actress. 

Other short works had a different effect. “The House In Belvedere County” contained a shocking twist, but this story lacked genuine emotion. The narrator spoke of brutal murders in the same tone one would talk about the weather. The only saving grace to this tale was the mic drop moment. 

Monotone is how I’d describe most of the works in the anthology. Sure, pieces like “The Hangman,” “Torment,” and “Portrait” were creepy, but they were one-dimensional. They didn’t wow me. I wish more material resembled “We Wish You A…” It’s the type of supernatural story that has you feeling a character’s confusion and fear. Plus, what an ending! 

The foundation for the anthology was good. The author does have a vivid imagination. They know how to tap into the supernatural and real-world equally well. However, they were several editing mistakes, and most characters and stories felt lifeless, like the corpses in the stories. 

This anthology does have good bones. Many readers will find some of the stories terrifying. And, the author does give you what they promised, stories that will “torment your peaceful slumber.”

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

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Meet the Author

Clive Owen Barry is a British author living in the north east of England. Together with short stories of dark literary fiction he has independently published adult crime novels, as well as mid-grade fantasy novella’s and more recently a collection of short stories of the macabre.

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February 24, 2023 · 7:00 am

The Broken Darkness by Theresa A Braun (Book Review)


In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire-forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.

Contents:
“Dead over Heels”
“Collecting Empties”
“The Celestial Assignment”
“Guilty As Cell”
“Lost Time”
“Heathen”
“Stillborn”
“Legend Trippers”
“Dying for an Invitation”
“Homecoming”
“Stay Tuned”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps
“Heirloom”

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

Before I began the horror anthology, I noticed that I’d read and reviewed about half of them in the past. I will briefly summarize a few before pushing forward with the new reads. 

“Dead over Heels” – As a fan of science fiction/paranormal shows, I love storylines that tap into the unknown. In “Dead over Heels,” we watch as the past meets the present in the forms of spirits reliving traumatic moments, aka their deaths by the same murderer.

As you can imagine, the living playing unwilling bystanders to this horrific scene is one thing — the victims being someone near and dear to their heart is another matter entirely. It amplifies the experience 1000%. 

For fans of the ghosts/spirits, I assure you this ending was perfection. It wasn’t your typical ending to a ghostly tale, and I like my plot twists.

“Stillborn” combined science fiction, mystery, suspense, gore, and shock. I didn’t want the story to end! 

“Legend Trippers” had gore, blood, and moments where I was happy I wasn’t reading this short story after sundown.

 

There were six short stories in the horror collection that I hadn’t read in the past: “Collecting Empties,” “Guilty As Cell,” “Lost Time,” “Heathen,” “Stay Tunes,” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Half of those scored five stars because they each possessed unique qualities that had me cringing, contained a fascinating turn of events, or possessed a plot that stood out from other stories in the horror genre.

“Stay Tuned” had vigilante justice served that would make the most vial and evil psychopath stand up, clap, and say, “Well done.” 

“Guilty As Cell” had me giving my cell the side-eye. It had a vengeful spirit, a possessed cell phone, and an ending that might be a trigger scene for some readers. Not the ghost, but, heck, maybe that too. Who am I to know who believes in the supernatural world and who might’ve seen a less-than-friendly spirit? 

I thought I knew the path “Heathen” was taking, and then Theresa wrote an enlightening scene that changed everything. I love Theresa’s plot twists!

 

Theresa’s works have always impressed me. She thinks outside the horror box and always leaves me wanting more. 

I recommend you pick up this collection! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Theresa Braun was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and has carried some of that hardiness with her to South Florida where she currently resides with her two fur babies, who are her creative sidekicks. She enjoys delving into creative writing, painting, photography and even bouts of ghost hunting. Traveling is one of her passions—in fact, her latest adventure took her to Romania for a horror writers’ workshop where she followed in the steps of Vlad the Impaler. She writes horror fiction and the occasional romance. Oh, and she likes to guest blog about writing, television shows, movies, and books, mostly in the horror genre.

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October 26, 2022 · 7:00 am

Come One, Come All by E. Gilliland (Book Review)

The Pied Piper Circus lures in the lost, the lonely, people who wish to be stronger or faster or prettier…but once you join, you can never leave. 

Louisa knows the dangers of the traveling carnival, but she cannot afford to stay away. Not if she wants to get rid of the white owl that’s been haunting her, invading her dreams. Not if she wants to know about the dark, sinister mark in her eyes that convinces people to follow her every whim, no matter how terrible. Not when she fears what she might do with that power.

Ringmaster Amos Cain has the answers Louisa seeks, but like everything else in the Pied Piper Circus, they won’t come without a price. And there’s something hungry living in the heart of the carnival that will never be satiated, no matter how many lost souls She consumes.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Years and years ago, I grew up in a tiny town. Every fourth of July weekend, a carnival would be set up less than a block from my house. During the day, the carnival didn’t look scary. At night, I had the opposite feeling regarding the place. I’m sure the carnie workers were friendly enough, but at night, I was afraid of them and who might grab me on the way back to my house. This story made me remember all those uneasy feelings from years past. 

The Pied Piper Circus had an acrobat, clown, a strong man, and a tiger that entertained the visitors. The circus also housed a very dark secret – a monster that feasted on the souls of the lost and lonely. When hunger struck or anger boiled over, the monster, referred to as “Lady,” would peel the skin off her victim’s flesh. She was the stuff of nightmares! 

Amos was the circus’s ringmaster, but he also helped corral the Lady when she awoke. It was no easy task keeping the Lady pleased; she was a jealous and heartless beast. 

The book’s summary was an attention-grabber. The cover and title are perfect! The story itself left me with mixed feelings. The story’s plot was unique. However, the first half often gave off a sequel vibe. For instance: It was written as if I should know who certain characters are, their past interactions, and why they behaved or reacted in certain ways. I looked up the book to verify this was not a sequel in a series. 

Since this book is labeled “horror,” I craved more Lady feasting scenes. Her hunger wasn’t capitalized on enough to make this a typical horror book. This story was more supernatural in nature. 

I was pleasantly surprised who came out of nowhere to help Louisa when we saw Lady’s anger unleashed. I thought they were gone forever. (No spoilers.)

With the superbly written book summary, I was ready to be blown away by the contents. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. It felt incomplete. Even though I had mixed feelings regarding the story, I recommend you read it. It was a nice supernatural read, and the ending opened it for a sequel. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2

 

 

About the Author

Writer Elizabeth Gilliland was photographed in Mobile, Alabama.

Elizabeth Gilliland mostly believes in ghosts and other supernatural spooks, but she has a standing agreement with them to keep a respectful distance. When she isn’t writing, she is most likely sneaking classic Gothic novels into her class curriculum, or arguing why we need to value adaptations as art. She is also the author of the Austen University Mysteries, and she lives in Alabama with her husband and son.

Bayou Wolf Press | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

 

 

 

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October 14, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Pain Eater by LaShane Arnett (Book Review)

For most people, discovering the truth of who you are can be a harrowing journey, but when you’re 21-year-old Sadie Reed, discovering your truth can be downright deadly.

After her twenty-first birthday, Sadie has an undeniable vision and learns she’s psychic. She uses her gift to reconnect with her estranged father and spirals down an emotional rabbit hole…

When she has a vision of missing woman, Maxine Powell, being brutally murdered, she learns true evil does exist– and it’s killing gifted women just like her.

With the help of her best friend, Adrian, whom she is falling in love with, and Angel, an old dying Psychic, Sadie embarks on a journey to find the missing woman and quickly learns the path to her full potential lies within death.

Will it be hers, or someone she cares about?

The Pain Eater uniquely touches on the lasting pain associated with loss, the power within true love, and the strength of family.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Sadie was born special, different than other babies. She could “read other babies.” As she grew, her “powers” grew with her. She didn’t quite understand them. At times, they got her in hot water at school. Sadie didn’t have a parent to speak to regarding her abilities. Her mom was stripped of her life (dead), and her father checked out immediately (mentally and often times physically). Sadie was not alone though – she had her best friend Adrian to lean on. A friend who eventually became more than a friend.

With Adrian by her side, she found a psychic (Angel) to help shield her mind and harness her powers. During their brief time together, she learned secrets about her family. These secrets would change her world forever. When Angel passed on, Sadie was thrust head-first into predicaments she wasn’t entirely prepared for. Anxiety, panic attacks, confusion, and fear were emotions constantly bombarding Sadie. I would be scared, too, if I suddenly saw menacing shadows, dead people, and glowing objects. 

We met the most interesting characters at Angel’s Celebration of Life shindig. Brianna, the three-boobed woman, gave me flashbacks to the Total Recall movies. There was also the bearded woman, hypnotist, sword swallower, contortionist, and so forth. I’ve never been to a “freak show” before, but I can imagine walking into a room with this group of individuals must’ve been quite an experience. 

Through Angel, we learn how Angel became powerful and where Sadie’s powers came from. No spoilers. 

The unsub’s identity of who took the numerous women was not divulged in this book; however, the final chapter made me think the sequel will center on him or her. Psychic versus Psychopath – I can’t wait!  

If you like paranormal thrillers or believe in psychics, pick up this book! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

About the Author

Author Pic

LaShane Arnett is an African American poet and author living in Southern California with her husband of thirty+ years. She is the creator of Arnett Publications and the author of The Sadie Reed Series. The first book in the series, The Pain Eater, is highly recommended for anyone who loves Paranormal Thrillers.

LaShane Arnett | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

 

 

 

 

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