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.

This has already been posted to Goodreads.

Not included on Goodreads is the following feedback: there were a number of typographical errors throughout the book that I assume will be rectified prior to publication.

[3.5 rounded up]

Some of the stories were actually really scary! It got to the point in “Half the House is Haunted” that I had to set the story down several times because it gave me the creeps. The best story in the collection (in my opinion) was “Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer”, but unfortunately the following story “The Jupiter Drop” touched on so many similar elements and themes (isolation, guilt, being trapped) that it cheapened the effect when paired together. The last story, “Egorov”, was a really interesting concept but slogged on forever. I think overall each story could have taken a 20% cut in length. I’m not the biggest fan of Josh Malerman, but I think after reading this collection I’d be more open to reading his future works.

Thanks Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This is the third book of Malerman's I have read, and it was a bit of a letdown. The first novella, "Half of the House," was definitely my favorite of the book. I liked the eerie vibes, and I kind of love when the speech of children is anachronistic - the children could have been from many different eras, and the story seemed very "Turn of the Screw"-ish at first.
"Argyle" was easily my least favorite story. The death-bed confession bit was too much, and it was rather dull for a story about a would-be serial killer.
The next two stories were very similar in concept, and I didn't really like either. They also felt very Bradbury-esque in their distrust of technology and mankind's faith in it. "Doug and Judy Buy a House Washer" started strong, but the dialogue was just not there for me in this one. Doug and Judy were too cartoonishly evil for me to care about either their redemption arc or their fates. In "The Jupiter Drop," I felt like the poor main character didn't get any resolution - I didn't feel like there was a strong enough connection between his guilt and his actions here.
Egorov was the least fantastical of the stories, and it completely fell flat for me. I found myself skimming through it after the first six or so "chapters."
I gave this one a 2.5 stars.

When I saw this new collection of Novellas by Malerman, of course I had to check it out. But I have to keep my opinion unbiased as a reviewer, because I think that all readers should go into a favorite author blind. Pretending as if it’s an author they have never heard of before, not showing favoritism.

Out of all of the 5 novellas in this book, “Doug & Judy Buy a House Washer” was my absolute favorite!!! Doug & Judy are portrayed as an asshole couple who buy a house washer- it’s a Dr Suess type contraption where they sit in a glass cube and wait 90 minutes for their whole house to be cleaned thoroughly. In 90 minutes, they find a lot out of each other even though they have been married for a number of years. Most of it, not good at all. I found myself anticipating what was going to happen next- spooking myself out, wondering what is outside of that glass cube of theirs, while their house is being cleaned.

My next fav was “Half the House is Haunted”. A sister constantly scares her little brother into thinking that half of their house is haunted. Which half? And how long is this going to go on for? Unfortunately, I wished that this could have been a longer story. I felt cheated on their background life and the parents. It just seemed too abrupt.

“Argyle” was the hardest read for me. A father who is dying but has to tell his family and friends that he was a serial killer but never really killed anyone even though he had psychopath behaviors and it was freeing for him to admit. My father died a little over a year ago, and I just didn’t understand the actions that were made by the children of the main character. The premise was good though.

Egorov was a slog. I mean a slog to get through.

Overall, I had a lot of fun reading all of the novellas and still need to read his short story collection Goblin. Thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group. These five stories will have you wondering long after you close the book or turn off your kindle. Each one is different, but each one makes you wonder where the author was going with his words. I had to go back and read a few over due to how deep they take you. This is the first book I read by this author but not the last. Five stories, five times to be spooked!

Everything Malerman writes, or at least that I have read of his, ties the horrific with the sublime and the emotional, it's a very deeply-felt horror that he writes about. This collection is...genius. It made me feel, it made me scream.

thank you to netgalley, and random house publishing/ del rey, for giving me the chance to read this ARC. spin a black yarn is a collection of five horror short stories in the samhatten universe. the release date is august 15, 2023. if you want to get your spooky season on the right foot, grab this story!

half the house is haunted- this story shook me to my core. it’s a story about a relationship between a brother and sister, and this was really hard for me to read because i was terrified the entire time i was reading it.

argyle- this one was my favorite out of them all. it was about a dad on his deathbed who is so happy that he had these serial killer urges, but never acted on them. this was a page turner.

doug and judy buy the house washer- this story is about a pretentious, horrible couple who want the latest innovation to show off to people they know. this gave me some sci-fi vibes.

the jupiter drop- this one made me feel a type of way because it’s about a man who takes an apartment down to the center of jupiter while grieving the loss of his neighbor…but the entire apartment is basically made out of windows.

egorov- this story is a revenge story about triplets who lose one of their brothers because he was murdered. i felt this one lost me a little bit because i had a hard time getting into it. i’m not sure if it was the characters, or if some of the dialogue was hard to follow.

overall, i’d give it 4/5 stars.

Five novellas. Five different plots. One entertaining compendium of mystery and thrills.
Story 1.
Half of the House is Haunted.
The question is...which half of the house is haunted? Hell, I'd have to know. First story is a social volley, of sorts, between a brother and a sister.
Frought with fear and the mind tricks of youths. Are they mind tricks? Or is there some truth to the games the older sister plays? Part two is the recollection of the boy back when he was in said haunted house. A childhood home is supposed to be a haven of peace, but this house is shrouded in mystery.
Facing your fears, I felt, was a theme in this story. A classic notion of bravery, however the author took this classic character pov to a new level. One of which is so absurdly astounding that you actually feel motivational chills. If that's even possible in a horror novel. The author proved that it is possible and I will applaud this story for years to come.
Childhood haunts can dig deep roots. Those roots can grow through the years in an invasive way effecting different aspects of one's life. The story leaves you with the ultimate question. The very same question you had in the beginning. Which half of the house was haunted?
Story 2.
Argyle.
A chilling confession of dark urges sets the ink of the short story aflame. Immediately a hook that lingers in your mind and settles in your stomach.
A deathbed divulgence with intensity. A father sits amongst his family and closest friends revealing his deepest, darkest secret whilst the closest people to him stare, mouths open agast. Tensions rise along with the disbelief. You find yourself wondering...how deep will this rabbit hole go? How would you, personally, react if your father confessed such insidious, lifelong musings?
I don't want to dole out too many details because I think anyone would want to read the details and thought patterns for themselves. This story gets your cogs turning on moral thought patterns, white, grey, dark, and anything in-between. All of which had me stirring. I will say, however, it makes you wonder about all the seemingly regular people you meet. Who are they and what are they hiding?
Story 3.
Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer.
An odious couple purchases a state of the art house washer/cleaning system. A tale of keeping up with the Jones. They have the typical, " I want it first then I'll rub their noses in it" attitude.
A bickering couple stuck in a plexiglass tube chatting about their former lives. What could go wrong? You are drenched in their egotistical, apathetic attitudes whilst they are compelled to relive their self centered deeds.
The house washer gets to work. What I appreciated is despite their vainglorious behavior, the time in the tube makes them think about all the terrible things they have done.
The house washer unpacks long forgotten baggage and forces a couple to rethink their life choices. A morality check. So to speak. Did it work? You have to find out.
What do you do when a product purchased to clean your house becomes aggressive?

Those were my three favorites out of the five novellas. I will leave the other two for others to discover. My advice give this a read if you enjoy mind twists and dark human nature being revealed. It will get the cogs and clock parts in your mind turning with each peculiar quandary.

This collection includes 5 longer short stories, and I enjoyed four of them, which is not a bad ratio! Of the four, Half the House Is Haunted and Argyle were my favorites. The Jupiter Drop and Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer were interesting and weird (in good ways). The last novella, Egorov, was the longest and didn't really do it for me. It didn't capture my interest in the same was as the first four.

But, this is a solid collection of stories. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

These novellas were quite enjoyable. They all had a creepy feel and were fun to read. I’m glad they were all together in one book, as I wouldn’t seek out or buy these stories on their own.