Josh Malerman’s SPIN A BLACK YARN is a collection of five novellas that delve into the dark depths of the human psyche. The stories are not interconnected, however there are nods to other tales for fans to discover. It is an absolute delight being back in the Josh-Malerman-story-verse.

Stories range from a sibling's chilling experience in "Half The House Is Haunted" to a dying man's confession of criminal acts and dark desires in "Argyle," the tales explore a range of emotions and fears. "Jupiter Drop" takes a science-fiction turn as the protagonist plunges through the giant gas planet, only to find he's not alone. "Doug and Judy Buy The Washer" examines the dangers of consumerism and the need to fit in. Finally, "Egorov" stands out with its clipped Russian dialogue and intricate plot of deception, vengeance, and murder.

Each story in SPIN A BLACK YARN warrants a uniquely different reaction, leaving readers with feelings of fear, horror, awe, and wonder. As always, Malerman did a stellar job. He’s brilliant. Also, the cover is ominous and beautiful - I want it framed on my wall.

Come on into Samhattan and pull up a stool. This collection of novellas takes place in the same city, but each entry stands on its own, a testament to Malerman's ability to harness moods and subgenres, characters and times.
"Half the House is Haunted" is a song. The drums alternate between bass and snare, steady quarter notes. Minimal decoration, just unyielding beat. The bass pedals a 4 chord progression, just enough distortion to set the tone, and the line never changes. Instead, the verses and chorus maneuver around that stalwart eighth note riff. The singers trade lines and one of them owns the refrain, always the same words, but the context changes depending on the call, the response. When the song ends, the rhythm section keeps playing in your head, but the feeling all the parts came together to create, the psychological beast, that stays in your soul.
"Argyle" is a mammoth of an idea. A suppressed serial killer makes his confession on his deathbed to his wife children, friends, and workmates. A darkly funny meditation on human spirit and human behavior and life's quirks.
"Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer" carries the darkly funny tone, creating a macabre blend of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and Keeping up with the Jones's. As many readers will be accustomed to, this story feels like it was written in a whirlwind. Thoughtful yet manic with relentless pacing.
"The Jupiter Drop" journeys into science fiction territory while still maintaining the humanity of the main character, the age old idea of familiarity in an unfamiliar place.
"Egorov" is perhaps the least Malerman-ly entry in the bunch. A Russian family drama with touches of crime and supernatural. The longest entry in the book, "Egorov" is dark, brooding, and unlike anything you've read by the author before.
Stick around for "A Traveling Title, a City, a Friend" - a note on the genesis of the book and a touching tribute to Malerman's manager/friend, Ryan Lewis.

Spin a Black Yarn is, overall, a good collection of novellas that I am glad I got to read. Of the stories in here “Half the House is Haunted” starts things off really well and was a 5 star ghost story that I absolutely will come back to. “Argyle”, “Doug and Judy buy the House Washer”, and “The Jupiter Drop” were all 4 star stories that largely play on fear and suspense and do so really well. Sadly the outlier in this collection for me was “Egorov”. It takes up 30% of the book and was too slow and too long in my option. It lands at 2 stars for me.

Because of “Egorov” I’d say this book ends up at more of a 3.5, but I am rounding it up to 4 stars rather than down because I liked the other tales so much.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

I am all the way in for anything Josh Malerman does. His books are all great. I've read most and there isn't a bad one among them.

This is a collection on horror novellas and the novella is the perfect length for a story - not too long where it gets bogged down in bullshit and not too short to leave a man wanting more.

All of these stories are great but Argyle was the standout for me. A deathbed confession that becomes something more.

Love it, bring on some more please

Spin a Black Yarn is a collection of five novellas by Josh Malerman. The stories are:

Half the House Is Haunted: A sister insists to her little brother that their house is haunted.
Argyle: A dying man confesses to homicides he never committed.
The Jupiter Drop: A tourist takes the ultimate trip to outer space.
Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer™: A trendy married couple buys the latest home gadget only to find themselves trapped by their possessions, their history . . . and each other.
Egorov: A wealthy old man murders a young man, not knowing the victim was a triplet.

The stories are effectively written and entertaining. Malerman is skilled at establishing a suspenseful atmosphere. The stories are also quite dark and disturbing, but they are also thought-provoking.

Personally, my favorite story in this collection was "Half the House Is Haunted." It is a classic ghost story, but Malerman puts his own unique spin on it, which is what made it my favorite. Ghost stories are usually exhausted and cliche, but Malerman made it so fun to read. The story is told from the perspective of the younger brother, who is trying to convince his older sister that their house is haunted. The story is full of eeriness, and it will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

I would recommend Spin a Black Yarn to fans of horror, suspense, and dark fiction.

I unfortunately DNFd this title. The first few stories felt like I was waiting for the spooky factor to kick in. Just too much suspense with no payoff. Not for me.

Spin A Black Yarn by Josh Malerman is a compilation of five very different novellas, all taking place in a fictitious town called Samhattan. I’ll review each one separately here in order of my preference.

5.0 out of 5.0 stars: Half the House Is Haunted. I loved this story. Part One is titled “8 AND 6” and is narrated by siblings Robin (6 years old) and Stephanie (8 years old). Stephanie has told her younger brother that half of the gothic mansion they call home is haunted. But which half? The top? Bottom? North side? South side? Or maybe every other tile in the entryway is haunted or every other step on the stairs leading to the second floor? Stephanie isn’t telling, but she is trying to scare her brother and doing a good job of it. This novella screamed to me of Shirley Jackson and it is quiet horror at its best. The interplay between the siblings actually reminded me of a time when I was about eight and we went to visit cousins in Connecticut. My cousins were older and I remember Norman telling my sister and I that there was a light switch on the wall that would blow the house up! I believed him and, long into adulthood, I remained wary of light switches. It’s this kind of psychological trickery that Stephanie unleashes on her younger brother. The novella follows the two through adulthood and eventually the death of one. I loved this novella and couldn’t put it down!

5.0 out of 5.0 stars: Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer. This story is a real gem. From the opening sentence, the reader knows he/she is in for a treat. The house washer is an appliance that cleans the entire house — the rugs, the walls, the closets, the furniture, clothing, dishes, etc., etc. While the house washer is working, the home’s occupants are kept secure sitting in a tube that extends from floor to ceiling from which they can watch their new, expensive appliance at work. Doug and Judy, who are only interested in money and status, purchase one of these machines without really bothering to find out anything about it. All they care about is how envious their friends and neighbors will be. But that soon changes as they sit inside the tube and watch as the washer not only cleans, but ferrets out all their dirty little secrets. Perhaps they should have read the instruction book? This was such a fun read. I was enthralled from the first sentence to the last.

5.0 out of 5.0 stars: The Jupiter Drop. When I first saw the title of this novella, I was a little bit disappointed. I don’t really like sci-fi. But, as I got into it, I found it to be more an exercise in psychological horror which is right in my wheelhouse. Steve Ringwald is a man riddled with guilt over the accidental death of his neighbor. The neighbor was outside raking leaves into the gutter when Steve drove by and just ever so slightly nicked him. The neighbor, not injured, smiled, but then fell backward, hitting his head. He subsequently died. Steve, consumed with guilt, loses his family and, now alone, sees an ad in the local newspaper for The Jupiter Drop. This adventure consists of a free-fall trip through the planet Jupiter. Participants are locked in an apartment in which the walls, ceiling and floor are all transparent so that everywhere they look they see the ever-changing gaseous nature of the planet. The journey through Jupiter takes two months and Steve’s only companions are virtual friendly faces and a virtual “mom.” This novella takes the reader on a psychological journey which, by the end, he/she may not be sure what it real and what isn’t. Another great read. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

4.0 out of 5.0 stars: Argyle. This novella is the story of a man who, on his deathbed, surrounded by his loving family and friends, confesses that he’s always been a serial killer wannabe. He admits to having fantasies of killing each and every one of them and that now, as his life wanes, he is proud to say that he has made it through life without succumbing to his urges except for maybe one little slip. The man tells his story as friends and family move in and out of the room, some enthralled, others shocked and horrified. This was an interesting story and parts of it were riveting. However, at times, I found myself getting a little bored waiting for something to happen. But still, I recommend it.

2.0 out of 5.0 stars: Egorov. This story has the seeds of a really engrossing read — the plot involving a set of triplets, one of which is senselessly murdered. The remaining two brothers, decide to mentally torture the man they believe responsible for their sibling’s death, by haunting him. Sounds good, doesn’t it? I thought so at first, but then it goes off on tangents. Another man confesses to the murder and, while he has nothing to do with the haunting, a lot of time is spent on him. Also, a lot of words are wasted on the brothers’ mother, father, wives, etc., making the book entirely too long and, to me, tedious. The haunting, which is the compelling part of the novella, seems to take a backseat to the other ruminations and I struggled to keep reading because I was getting hopelessly bored. If this were tightened up, it could be quite a good read, but as it is, I’ll take a pass on it.

In summary, I highly recommend Spin A Black Yarn by Josh Malerman. In a collection of stories like this, not every read is going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But the ones that did it for me, outshine those that didn’t. Thank you to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this great collection of stories.

ARC was given by NetGalley & Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (August 15, 2023)

Let me be honest, this is my first book from this author, ever. I know, I know! I know so many people who have read from this author and loved their work, and I was excited when this arc landed in my hands. This is a collection of 5 horror stories that feel like they’ve come from real life experiences, all taking place in the same town, in different parts. While there are only 5 stories in this collection, I did find some favorites and a few that missed the mark for me.

As always for my anthologies & short story reviews, I have mini reviews for all the short stories where I talk about my thoughts, feelings, and include content/trigger warnings.


➼ Half the House is Haunted ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Bullying, mentions killing/harming animals, death of loved ones, talk of hospitalization

“Half the house is haunted, Robin. Don’t ask me which half.”

I absolutely adored this short story! Honestly, out of all the short stories in this collection, I think this might be my favorite story of the whole book. I really loved how we follow two siblings, Stephanie and Robin, in this story, a relationship that doesn’t quite have the best reputation. We get both perspectives and see the different tones between the two. Stephanie has a mysterious, ominous tone, while Robin has more of a frustrated, scared tone to it. I thought it was really well done and honestly, I think this could have become a full novella on it’s own.

➼ Argyle ⭐⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death, mentions of kidnapping/abduction, mentions torture, mentions of self-mutilation/self-harm

“We were Dad’s dark glasses, were Dad’s disguise.”

This was such an interesting story that surprised me. We follow a man named Shawn, who’s finally reached his time in life, and with this realization, Shawn has a giant confession, a secret he wants to tell everyone. When I tell you this was such a interesting take on a serial killer, I mean it. I’ve never read a story quite like this and it was interesting to follow Shawn’s story. What stood out to me the most was Argyle herself. I wanted more of her and it felt like her whole appearance through the story was way too short. I wish we saw more of Shawn’s sister too especially since she played such a key role in the story herself, but we never really saw her come into the picture until close to the end. I think it would have been more interesting if she had been more involved.

➼ Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer ⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warning: Toxic relationship, talk of adultry/cheating, mentions of suicide, death

“Thank you for using the House Washer,” the base says, “Please… tell your friends all about your experience. And why not? For what you paid for?”

When I first started this story, I was pretty darn excited. Whenever I see that technology may be involved in horror, I instantly get intrigued because there’s so many ways it could go and the potential is just palpable. However, I feel rather disappointed by this short story. We follow Doug and Judy, a married couple, who are the most hated people in town, for very good reasons. And they just recently bought a House Washer, that supposedly cleans your whole home, but things don’t go the way Judy and Doug thought they would. This story had so much potential and just missed the mark for me. There were quite a few things and moments that were very predictable for me. For example, the fact that there would be a cycling through both Doug and Judy’s past memories. I think the part I disliked the most was the ending. I think the ending could have been expanded on or there could have been a follow up to what happened. I even predicted how the ending was going to play out and there were a few other things I just wasn’t a fan of. Though this short story is a bit of a play on those who are wealthy or celebrities, this just wasn’t for me.

➼ The Jupiter Drop ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Talk of murder, death, mentions automotive accident (in the past), isolation, hallucinations

“You most certainly did not. There is no life on Jupiter. And if you think you saw life on Jupiter? You are mistaken.”

Steve Ringwald is haunted by a single moment in his life, and now that his wife and kids have left him, Steve is feeling rather empty inside. Steve wants a change, an adventure. So when he reads the morning paper and an ad for the Jupiter Drop catches his eye, Steve might just be considering going. This was such a great concept and fascinating story! I think we’ve all have/had dreams of exploring space or going on a space adventure at one point in our life. What was really interesting was this whole adventure is a way for Steve to work through the single moment that changed his life forever, the one that still haunts him. I was full captivated and my curiosity fueled me as I devoured the pages for this short story. I don’t want to say much, but this story is one I still think about even now.

➼ Egorov ⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death, murder, mentions of poverty, alcoholism, grief, graphic death of animals, depictions of blood, violence

“They held hands above the small wooden table. “Ghost,” Barat said. “Haunt,” Pavel said.”

This was my least favorite of the entire collection and there’s a lot to unpack with this short story. For starters, this “short story” didn’t feel like a short story at all. It read like this was already an individually published novella because this it’s the longest story in the whole book, and makes up a good portion of the last chunk of the book, as well. There’s also the fact that there’s a ton of point of views in this short story, way too many povs. Almost seven or eight different point of views. There was a point where all the different perspectives started to blur together and it became very overwhelming to try to tell the difference between all of them because some had very similar tones to their chapter. And let me take a moment to mention the rat horror. Out of everything in this short story, the direction this goes with the rats was not my cup of tea and made me incredibly nauseous. Not a fun reading time. Overall, this wasn’t the short story for me and I wish the book didn’t end with this story, at all.


I gave Spin a Black Yarn three stars overall, because out of the possible 25 stars (5 stars being possible for all 5 stories) this short story collection accumulated 15 stars (60%)!

The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Wow, does Josh Malerman write a creepy story... I have had two experiences with him so far - a novella and a novel. I finished the former (A House at the Bottom of a Lake)) and mostly enjoyed it not could not finish the latter (Unbury Carol). So I wasn't sure exactly what I would find in this series of novellas and stories, what I found was fairly evenly split - two of the stories didn't hold my interest at all and two were fabulous but exceptionally creepy. My favorite story in the book by far was Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer. It was everything I want in a short story - original and interesting, with well drawn characters, a quick biting plot, and excellent prose that grabbed me by the throat from the opening lines and refused to let go until the bitter end. I loved everything about it - the concept, the lesson, the creepy factor, and the snark. The other story I enjoyed - if I can really say that without sounding weird - was Argyle. This was the creepiest thing I've read in a long time. The idea of a father confessing on his deathbed to his lifelong desire to kill his family and everyone around him was darkly funny at first but played out in such an utterly sociopathic and horrifyingly explicit way that I turned the pages with distaste, yet couldn't stop turning them... The other three stories in the book just didn't do anything for me. The dark magic of Doug and Judy and Argyle were just not there for me - I had no connection to Half the House is Haunted at all; Jupiter Drop and Egorov started intriguingly but both lost me relatively quickly. It's strange to me how I can respond so differently to stories by the same author in a single book, but I suppose it's not if you read the afterward and see that he has been collecting these stories for some time. Still, the other two stories were so strong that the collection on the whole was still a positive read for me.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this e-arc. Opinions are my my own and voluntarily given.

This series of novellas was really interesting! Five suspenseful, magical, and sometimes creepy stories that were unique and memorable in their own ways. This is a new to me author, and I will definitely be reading their other work for the writing style alone. There were a few grammatical errors throughout and I definitely enjoyed some stories more than others.

Half the House is Haunted was my favorite. I loved the creepy mansion setting and alternating perspectives of the brother and sister. Them addressing each other in each section made it seem as if you were in the room with them.

Argyle felt very probable in the real world. The deathbed confession of always wanting to murder was fascinating and suspenseful.

Doug and Judy Buy a House Washer was an interesting concept: a machine that cleans dirty houses and the secrets within kept my very engaged. It was a close second as a favorite. I could feel the tension and fear from the couple. I wasn’t expecting the ended at all!

Jupiter Drop was probably my least favorite, but still enjoyable. It’s about a man struggling to deal with his neighbors death and his “freefall” through Jupiter while facing the guilt. Not sure why I didn’t enjoy it as much.

Egorov was the longest novella about two triplets seeking revenge on the murderer of the third. The plot itself was intriguing and I loved how the brother’s sought out revenge that wasn’t obvious. I felt like some of the parts dragged out though and it could have been shorter.

Overall a great novella collection! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read suspenseful, mysterious, and varied stories.

Cross-posting on Goodreads, StoryGraphs, and will also be sharing with my book club.

Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman is a unique and captivating novel that will leave readers enthralled. The characters in this novel are extremely well developed and intriguing. Malerman does an excellent job of creating vivid personalities that draw the reader in and keep them hooked. The story is full of suspense and adventure, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing.
Full review to come on YouTube.

Awesome collection of novellas with loads of detail. I think the stronger works were to the front - the last story of the two remaining triplets hunting their brother's killer felt like it would never end. I loved the deathbed story, and really loved the two parts of the haunted house story as well.

Five grim tales are featured in the latest work by horror starboy Josh Malerman. Malerman, working within his fictional, interconnected geopgraphy (Goblin, Samhattan, East Kent, etc) drags his characters through some bizarre situations: a sister who repeatedly asserts to her brother that "half the house is haunted", a man beset by guilt who signs up to be dropped through the planet Jupiter for two months on a new "thrill ride", a father on his deathbed who reveals some dark urges, and a rich couple who buy the latest trendy gadget only to find themselves staring at an unwelcome mirror instead.

Pros:
- These stories are page turners! With the exception of the final one, all of them really fly by.
- Half the House is Haunted manages to be both actually scary and actually moving at the same time...very tough to pull off in a tired genre!

Cons:
- The final story deflated my sails a little bit. I probably would have given this collection five stars overall, but I thought the last one dragged a bit.

Four stars. Malerman is firing on all cylinders, and doesn't look ready to slow down any time soon.

FFO: connected universes a la THE KING or Lovecraft, writers on top of their game and supremely confident in their craft.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley*

Overall, probably would give this collection 3.5/5 stars

A huge thank you to Del Ray Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this wonderful collection early!


This was definitely my favorite collection of stories from Malerman! I found them incredibly creative and fun.


1- Half the House is Haunted
3.5/5 stars

To be quite honest, this took me a while to get in to. I didn’t quite get the way it was being written, and felt it a little odd, but I quickly got in the groove— There is something about a lack of quotation marks that just throws me off. However, once I got into it, it started to make a lot more sense.

2-Argyle
5/5 stars

This was definitely my FAVORITE of this collection. I found the narrative interesting, and I couldn’t stop reading. The suspense and build up throughout the story was a slowwwwww burn. But it was definitely worth it!


3-Doug and Judy Buy the House WasherTM
4/5 stars

This story was crafted wonderfully, and it was definitely something I have never read before. Well done!

4- The Jupiter Drop
3/5 stars

I found this story to be quite interesting but I also did not love the ending like I thought I would. The entire premise of the story was thought provoking but I just wanted more.

5- Egorov
DNF about half way through

I was bored with this one and did not care to finish it….

Was this book good or was it bad? I don't know! I really don't know how I feel. Then I read reviews and its the exact same experience from others. So its kind of an "ehhh" book. I appreciate the e arch..

2.5/5 stars! A creepy-crawly collection of stories wrapped in a stunning book cover. I enjoyed several of the stories, but it did feel like the pacing was off. They felt more drawn out than needed. But I think it was a good effort and I'd check out a full-length story by this author to form a firmer opinion.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Spin a Blank Yarn by Josh Malerman is a collection of five haunting novellas that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Each story is a unique blend of horror and speculative fiction that showcases Malerman's exceptional storytelling abilities.

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that there are a few authors out there who I absolutely adore – and would read their shopping list if published. Josh Malerman is one. The fact that we’re friends truly has nothing to do with it (I was a fan before that).

So when Netgalley listed his forthcoming book – SPIN A BLACK YARN – I immediately requested it. I also put down everything else to read it because, well, I can’t get enough of his storytelling.

And he doesn’t disappoint with this odd collection of stories!

I had a really hard time picking a favorite, but in the end, it would up like this. From favorite to “least” favorite (and I use the term “least” loosely:

1) Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer – OK, right from the get-go, Doug and Judy are the epitome of the “Yuppie” culture. Status, wealth, and material things are all that matter to them, and they will do anything to get it – even destroying people’s reputations with false accusations. They buy this new piece of equipment for their home that washes everything and are trapped inside with their memories, and hate. I think, for me, the reason I love this story so much is that I work in the technical support industry and can’t tell you how many times people don’t read the manual, or follow directions. In this instance, that has unexpected results. A+

2) Egorov – I’ve seen some reviews of this story where the readers don’t like it. They say it’s repetitive, or doesn’t resonate with them. I didn’t find that to be the case. Knowing a few sets of twins (but no triplets), I understand the bond between them. In this story, two surviving triplets enact revenge on their brother’s murderer in a unique way. Props to Josh for writing one of the most disgusting scene I’ve read in a long time. A+

3) Argyle – Wow, just… wow. I don’t think I’ve read a story like this. Josh takes a man’s deathbed “confession” to his family down a weird, and disturbing, path. Unfortunately, not much more can be said without giving too much away. I think I can best sum it up using the beginning of an old radio show – “ Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?” (Bonus points if you know what show, or even what a radio is 😉 ). A

4) Half the House is Haunted – This one ran a little long for me to be honest. It’s truly a “slow-burn”, but I felt it ended with a pop, and not an explosion. Josh shows siblings as the cruel, but still loving, people they are. As anyone with siblings can tell you, the older ones love tormenting the younger ones, but will turn on a dime to protect them. So, throughout the story we are wondering, is Stephanie just screwing with Robin or is she really trying to protect him from the evil in the house? A-

5) The Jupiter Drop – Let me start with this: Growing up, I wanted to be an astronomer. That was all I thought about; even went to college for Aerospace Engineering (when I discovered that astronomers don’t spend a lot of time looking at the stars). Then Differential Equations hit, and my mind couldn’t grasp the concept. But my love for the stars has never died. So when I started reading this story, I loved the concept – being dropped, in a clear, sealed, box (with all the amenities) through Jupiter. But, and I hate to write this, it just didn’t resonate with me. I get having to deal with the isolation for two months (cabin fever is something we all experienced during Covid), and at the core of this story is how to not only deal with that, but also having time to reflect on the guilt a person has over doing something – even an accident. But for whatever reason, I personally found it hard to get through. However, Josh does a wonderful job painting a picture of what a drop through Jupiter must look like, and it would be really cool to see someone do a VR of the concept. B

Once again, I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC, and of course I’ll be buying a copy once it’s released. I think you’re going to enjoy this one.

I’m confused now. Am I. Josh Malerman fan or am I not? It definitely wasn’t love at first read, but then he won me over with his later novels, but lately the appreciation has been ebbing. The novella collections seem to do nothing for me. Which is frustrating because I love novellas as a format.
First it was the Goblin collection and now this one, set in the same/similar/adjacent universe.
I’m not sure if it’s because these stories are actually older and are being rereleased or what, but they just don’t interest as much. They certainly don’t wow.
The overall quality is good enough, the plots are great, but the writing itself is overindulgent, unnecessarily protracted, and muddling. Nothing like, say, Black Mad Wheel in its slick lethal elegance.
In this collection, Malerman does showcase a nice range, from sci fi to thrillers, so that was nice. The second story was practically dark comedy. Such a clever concept, but way too drawn out.
Same with the last and longest novella, a clever suspense thriller, but so freaking long and slow and rambling with these ridiculous pages-long dialogues.
Overall, entertaining enough, but disappointing too. User mileage may vary. Thanks Netgalley.

Josh Malerman is a consistently good author who always manages to surprise with the topics he selects. Spin A Black Yarn — his novella collection — is just as good as you’d imagine.

There are five stories total. I’ve placed them in order from best to worst (or, more accurately, best to not quite as best):

1. Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer - 5/5 stars. This story starts off kind of like Sideshow Bob with the rakes, and I thought it was hilarious. Once we meet the couple, it becomes immediately obvious that they are horrible people who have dedicated themselves to sh!tting on others. They become trapped in a box together, though, and this will change everything in some unexpected ways.

2. Half the House is Haunted - 5/5 stars.
Malerman put some of his real-life history in this story (with the music), and I can’t help but wonder if he had much more in common with Robin’s character than just that. I can’t say much without spoiling it, so I’ll simply say that this one made me feel anxious, and that almost never happens. I did a coin flip to decide if this or Doug and Judy would be listed first because they’re both outstanding.

3. The Jupiter Drop - 5/5 stars.
This is — at its root — a story about how guilt can ravage you. Malerman decided to put this into a sci-fi/horror story about a man who goes to Jupiter for a two month vacation/experience. The Jupiter Drop is what it sounds like — you are dropped right through the planet (inside a sealed apartment). The question is whether you can mentally survive the experience. And remember: there is no life on Jupiter. If you think you see life on Jupiter, you are mistaken.

4. Argyle - 4/5 stars.
The concept behind this story was extremely cool and something that not many other writers have explored. Since it was all a man reflecting on his past, however, it ran a bit long in some areas. I can’t really say anything else without giving away spoilers. Suffice it to say that even Malerman’s slightly less good writings are better than most people’s best work.

5. Egorov - 4/5 stars.
Set in an American city’s Little Russia, this story was set before cars and electricity, but I don’t think Malerman ever set a specific time frame. What would you do if you were two of three triplets and the other one was murdered? Now, imagine what you’d do if you knew who his killer was. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s most likely not going to be what Malerman went with. The titular character is put through his paces — and does the grossest thing Malerman has ever written. I had a bit of difficulty connecting with the time period (since I didn’t know exactly when it was set), but the rest of the story more than makes up for that.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.