It’s near impossible to find a dozen authors in the same general genre that appeal to everyone, and every short story anthology is going to have hits and misses for each reader. This book had a higher batting average than I expected, and a few home runs.

It’s the first anthology published by Little Ghosts Books, maybe even their first publication. Fifteen accomplished authors contributed pieces that range from historical fiction and fantasy to body horror, supernatural and plain creepy.

There were three standouts for me:

Rewind by Erica McKeen is a story of madness told in a unique way, reminiscent of some classic Japanese horror — the repetitive phrases used by the narrator add an element of dread to the story, even before the true nature of the horror is revealed.

Marin: A Good Place to Live by Susie Moloney is a twist on the haunted-house in a small town theme that has some surprises and a Twilight Zone feel to it.

Garden of Guiding Eyes and Grabbing Bones by Ai Jiang, which is a kind of fable about the last lonely member of a family trying to escape some kind of curse.

Overall it’s a fantastic achievement for Little Ghosts — the store is a must-visit when I’m in the neighbourhood, and it is no small feat to start a publishing company from scratch. I’ll also be seeking out more from these three and several of the other authors in the anthology.

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