Short Horror

Joe Ledger is back! Joe Ledger: Secret Missions collects some of Ledger's most dynamic and bizarre short-story adventures - classic reprints as well as exciting new material! From the icy wastes of the Antarctic to the Gate of Hell in Turkmenistan, Ledger and his team are the last best hope that stands between the unsuspecting public and unimaginable dangers!

When you believe a better life waits for you beyond death, the perfect place to die is a difficult thing to find. Content warning: This story contains self-harm and disordered eating.

In "Strange Highways," a floundering alcoholic gets a mysterious second chance to relive the night his life began its downward spiral 20 years ago. But on this dark journey, he’ll be supremely tested by conflict with his successful, charismatic older brother, his loss of faith, and the clash between good and the ultimate evil. Sink into this binge-worthy collection of beloved Koontz short stories, featuring denizens of hell, vengeful children, and eerily human-like robots that will send shivers down your spine.

The hands of the clock freeze at midnight, and the witching hour is upon you. Demons shriek in the shadows, and the wind groans through the halls of a haunted mansion. The shadow of death looms over you, and you feel a chill creeping down your spine.... Scare Street is proud to present Night Terrors, Volumes 4-6 in a single collection. A ghoulish gathering of diabolical delights, featuring 43 tales of supernatural horror for your listening pleasure.

From Dickens's A Christmas Carol to the ghost stories of M.R. James, the tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. The twelve stories of The Winter Spirits are all centred around Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret, and drawing inspiration from festive traditions from all around the globe, these vibrant haunted stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights.

I believe that writing short stories in sci-fi, fantasy, horror, post-apocalyptic, and related genres represents a great way to get into indie publishing and finding your ideal audience. Here's my take on why this is so fun, often rewarding, and really exciting.

A Penguin Classic. First published in 1938, this volume of stories collected with the encouragement of his longtime editor Pascal Covici serves as a wonderful introduction to the work of Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck. Set in the beautiful Salinas Valley of California, where simple people farm the land and struggle to find a place for themselves in the world, these stories reflect Steinbeck’s characteristic interests: The tensions between town and country, laborers and owners, past and present.

First published in an 1839 edition of Burton's Gentleman's Magazine, "The Fall of the House of Usher" is the story of the declining physical and psychological health of the residents of the House of Usher - and the way in which the house itself reflects that. Gothic in theme and style, the story is an exemplar of Poe's philosophy of composition, which dictates that literary works should be short and methodological and have a unity of effect wherein all the elements of the story are related and relevant.

Join Sarah as she uncovers a mysterious necklace that holds a sinister secret, one that will tighten its grasp with every lie she tells. Feel your heart race as the line between truth and deception blurs, leaving you breathless with every twist and turn! This is not just a story; it’s an experience that will haunt your thoughts long after the final word fades.

As Tom and Lisa embark on a fresh start in a decrepit Victorian house, they quickly realize that this isn’t just a renovation project—it’s a descent into a nightmarish reality where shadows breathe and whispers beckon. Feel your heart race as chilling secrets unveil themselves, revealing a malevolent force that hungers for more than just life. This audiobook is not merely a story; it’s an immersive experience that will grip you with terror and intrigue!

Vitus Adamson is falling apart. As a pre-deceased private investigator, he takes the prescription Atroxipine hourly to keep his undead body upright and functioning. Whenever he is injured, he seeks Niko, a bombshell mortician with bedroom eyes and a way with corpses, to piece him back together. Decomposition, however, is the least of his worries when two clients posing his most dangerous job yet appear at his door looking for their lost son.

The most revered detective in Paris puts his skills to the test in three thrilling cases from the creator of Alex Cross and Detective Michael Bennett.

The ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan gets more than greasy corn dogs and flat soda when he visits a carnival in Kansas to which his apprentice, Granuaile, drags him. He runs across a barker with a strange power over the crowd: attractive women leave their men and disappear into an unmarked tent, never to be seen again, and the men wander away, forgetting that they ever had girlfriends or wives. When Granuaile falls under the barker’s influence and enters the tent, Atticus isn’t about to forget it and move on.

For more than three decades, Ellen Datlow has been at the center of horror. Bringing you the most frightening and terrifying stories, Datlow always has her finger on the pulse of what horror readers crave. Now, with the tenth volume of the series, Datlow is back again to bring you the stories that will keep you up at night. Included in the pages of The Best Horror of the Year have been such illustrious writers as Neil Gaiman, Kim Stanley Robinson, Stephen King, Linda Nagata, Laird Barron, and many others.

Join Rosalind Vale as she uncovers the terrifying truth behind her newfound sight, a journey that will shatter your perception of reality. With every chilling moment, you'll feel the icy grip of dread as shadows twist and whisper, lurking just outside your vision. This isn’t mere fiction; it’s a haunting experience that’ll make you question every flicker in the dark! As the tension escalates, prepare for shocking revelations that will thrill and terrify you, pushing the boundaries of your imagination.

Follow Jake Thornclaw as he plunges into a world where the full moon reveals the beast within, unleashing a nightmarish struggle between human and monster. Feel every heart-stopping moment as society unravels and the shadows come alive with unspeakable horrors! This isn’t mere storytelling; it’s an intense experience that will haunt you long after the last word fades. Prepare for unnerving twists that will challenge everything you thought you knew about humanity. Can you handle the howls that echo through the darkness?

Cabal is the story of Boone, a tortured soul haunted by the conviction that he has committed atrocious crimes. In a necropolis in the wilds of Canada, he seeks refuge and finds the last great creatures of the world - the shape-shifters known as the Nightbreed. They are possessed of unearthly powers-and so is Boone. In the hunt for Boone, they too will be hunted. Now only the courage of this strange human can save them from extinction.

Actor David Ian Davies' telling of Poe's Gothic horror tale "The Tell-Tale Heart" captures this classic narrative of the unnamed murderer in all its exquisite vileness, its self-effacing insanity that poses rationality where none exists.

The haunting voices of children echo through the darkness. Ancient curses, sinister lullabies, dark nursery rhymes fill your ears - no matter how hard you try to drown it out with your screams. You feel your sanity slipping away as you struggle to escape this hellish prison....

With tales from Laird Barron, Stephen King, John Langan, Peter Straub, and many others, and featuring Datlow’s comprehensive overview of the year in horror, now, more than ever, The Best Horror of the Year provides the petrifying horror fiction readers have come to expect - and enjoy.