Seeking to turn the page after a devastating personal tragedy, Katherine Ransom impulsively purchases Alston House, a partially restored Victorian, on the outskirts of the small town of Poplar Bend, Tennessee.
Although it was obvious the old pile still needed a lot of work, Katherine remains unfazed....after all, she'd gotten it for a song. And she could work on her art while the contractors handled whatever was required.
But her new beginning isn't as bright as she'd hoped.

Old houses have histories, a mix of life's joys and sorrows.

Alston House's history is one of human depravity.....and it's still festering after all these years.

A few people in town know exactly what Katherine has walked into....and are willing to let her face the consequences.

She won't be the first, or the last.

John Quick has written a solid, slow burn of a haunted house tale, exploring the depths of human evil, and the dark secrets that, once the whispering begins, lead from denial to other forms of human evil.

Every once in a while, and those whiles seem to be getting longer, there are anthologies that simply blow you away. You know the ones....DARK FORCES edited by Kirby McCauley, and Charles L. Grant's SHADOWS series being two that are close to my heart. Collections of stories that defy the odds, not a misstep in the bunch.....the ones that offer you unforgettable tales by authors you know, and tales by authors new to you, authors whose work you will seek out in the future.

MIDNIGHT IN THE GRAVEYARD, the premiere anthology from Silver Shamrock Publishing, is one of those books.

25 stories by authors who are household names (in decent, literate households), a few actual legends, the best of the crew that have taken over the reins, and some new voices you simply must hear.....because each one is that damn good.

Some personal favorites (because your mileage may vary) include:

DEVIL'S DIP by Shannon Felton

TUG O' WAR by Chad Lutzke

DROWN by Hunter Shea

THOSE WHO ARE TERRIFIED by Elizabeth Massie

COOL FOR CATS by William Meikle

SAWMILL ROAD by Ronald Kelly

THE GLIMMER GIRLS by Kenneth McKinley

THE RING OF TRUTH by Thomas F. Monteleone

THE GRAVEDIGGER'S STORY by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

THE PUTPOCKET by Alan M. Clark

SWAMP VENGEANCE by Brian Moreland

This book resets the bar for horror anthologies, and is a must have/must read for every fan of the ghostly and horror in general.

Highest possible recommendation.

*I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. Well, here it is.*

Five friends bond into the group they dub 'the Cricket Hunters' under the guidance of Celia and her abuela, a practicing bruja.....weaving a little of that white magic of childhood with the beliefs of their friend and her grandmother, while doing all the things that kids with bikes, woods and soaring imaginations do.

But with the sunshine comes the darkness.....and all magic isn't white. For one of them will disappear and never be seen again.

15 years later, Celia and Parker, one of her fellow hunters, are married. Celia has never let go of her abuela's teachings. But the past isn't finished with her or the Cricket Hunters, because now it's Parker's turn to vanish. And Celia will need the strength of her faith, and the magic of her childhood to find out what happened to her husband, and her long lost friend, because a darkness is gathering around her.

Jeremy Hepler delivers a brilliant coming of age tale, a mystery that runs the gamut from heartbreaking to bone chilling, filled with hope, heart and even horror.

I'll be watching for Jeremy's next books with avid anticipation.

Many thanks to Ken at Silver Shamrock Publishing, and Jeremy for the review e-ARC.

Two young brothers formulate a daring plan to escape from the cruel attentions of their abusive father, and find their long lost mother.
The best laid plans of mice and boys...because their father isn't the only threat standing in their way.

A poignant, heartbreaking coming of age novella, IN THE SCRAPE delivers on an emotionally visceral level.....from the power of love, to the chains that abuse forge, to the strength that comes when one pushes the innocent to their limits...and then over those limits.

James Newman and Mark Steensland work together is flawless, their writing styles melding together perfectly, becoming one powerful, compelling voice.
This is a team readers need to keep their eye on.....along with Silver Shamrock Publishing.
Well done.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Silver Shamrock Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication: July 1st, 2019.