Melody Writes

“Eighteen terrifying tales of what lurks behind the veil.” I’ve now read several collections from Eerie River and even with one theme, they always deliver a wide variety of stories, characters, and chills. In our daily lives, the veil separating us from death seems strong, but in this collection, the curtain is little more than thin gauze and dark creatures have no problems creeping through.   Typically when I review an anthology, I try to pick my favourite three stories to highlight, but there were five stories that really stood out for me.   Little Feet by RB Kelly   Alison, her husband, Ben, and their daughter, Mia visit an isolated cabin for Christmas. Setting this tale in the heart of winter, far from their home, added the element of isolation. When they arrive, little Mia finds a creepy doll and becomes obsessed with it. The doll terrifies Alison and begins to torment the family. Alison has to face her seemingly irrational fears to keep her family safe. I appreciated

 Firelight       Lisa and Kelly snuggled together inside their double sleeping bag and watched their friends' shadows on the tent walls, cast by the campfire's glow. Kelly was grateful for this trip to Wolf Island. She'd never been camping before.    Howls cut through the merriment outside.    Hulking shadows appeared.    Lisa crawled towards the door to check on their friends, but Kelly pulled her back when the slaughter began. The shadows on the tent displayed the gruesome scene. Beasts ravaged the campsite. Lisa and Kelly cowered inside their sleeping bag, hoping the creatures would leave.    But then they heard the zipper sliding open. Originally published in Summer Terrors from Black Ink Fiction      

When Erin’s Great Aunt Maggie passes away, Erin returns to Ireland to look after her estate and property, except Maggie’s will has an unusual clause: Erin must unravel the mystery of an old diary belonging to her ancestor, Bridget. However the diary is more than just words on a page and Erin is pulled into a dark time in the history of her family and Ireland. As she explores the past, Erin also has to deal with the present and all of the villagers who knew and loved her Great Aunt Maggie. Mondragon’s book is a gentle, easy read–a sharp contrast to the dark works that I usually read. It was a nice break for me. Sometimes the farm shenanigans felt a bit meandering and I would have preferred more focus on the diary and the mystery, but the detailed descriptions and lighthearted humour kept the story going. The descriptions of the locale and culture were a strong part of the story. Even though I have never been to Ireland, I could feel it come alive through this book.  While this book is n