Big fan of Malerman's works and this was no exception. I enjoyed the flow of the different stories and of course with any anthology, you'll have some stories that are a little stronger than others.

Five harrowing novellas of horror and speculative fiction from the singular mind of the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box, Josh Malerman. He’s a master weaver of stories—and in this spine-chilling collection he spins five twisted tales from the shadows of the human soul.

A sister insists to her little brother that “Half the House Is Haunted” by a strange presence. But is it the house that’s haunted—or their childhoods?

In “Argyle,” a dying man confesses to homicides he never committed, and he reveals long-kept secrets far more sinister than murder.

A tourist takes the ultimate trip to outer space in “The Jupiter Drop,” but the real journey is into his own dark past.

In “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.

And in “Egorov,” a wealthy old cretin murders a young man, not knowing the victim was a triplet. The two surviving brothers stage a savage faux-haunting—playing the ghost of their slain brother—with the aim of driving the old murderer mad.
This is a collection of short stories/novellas by Josh Malerman. I have read from him before; Bird Box was amazing but Inspection not so much. So, I was excited to read short stories from him to see if I could find more, I loved. I have reviewed each below individually.

Half the house - 3⭐️
This story is told in 3 parts. First is two siblings, brother and sister, during childhood. Stephanie is a bit of a bully to Robin constantly scaring him and telling him the house is half haunted. Second is when they're middle aged, reconnecting after years apart. Thirdly, it's when they're at their end of life and Stephanie has moved on. Overall, this story is about conquering your fears and moving on with your life.

Argyle - 4⭐️
This was incredible!!! I'm going to be thinking about this novella for a long time. It's so unsettling and creative. I am just blown away; I don't want to give anything away but it's a man reaching his last day of life feeling relief that he has made it to the finish line. Not giving into his desires. Sharing this with all the ones who knew him and came to say goodbye.

Doug and Judy Buy the Washer - 3.5⭐️
A couple who walk all over everyone including the ones they love for the "rise" to the top. They hire cleaning company, and all the sins of their past is revealed and cleaned. Again, black mirror vibes and would make an excellent episode. It was enjoyable and eerie however repetitive at times.

The Jupiter Drop - 3⭐️
This was okay; it follows a man on his vacation from Earth to the center of Jupiter, as he tries to sort out his guilt for what happened back on Earth. There’s quite a bit of guilt in this story.

Egorov – 3.5⭐️
This story takes us back in time to when Samhattan had horses walking its streets. Two triplets get revenge on the man who tried to kill their third. This one was WAY too long. It had a great style, like "The Tell-Tale Heart", but it was so repetitive that it was hard to finish.

This book is 5 novellas in one from the best-selling author of Bird Box and Mallory. These novellas/short stories will have you on the edge of your seat. The titles are Half the House is Haunted, Argyle, The Jupiter Drop, Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer(TM), and Egorov. Each is fantastic and creepy in its own right. Josh Malerman is right up there with Stephen King!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this e-arc.*

JoshMalerman's books ar eoften a hit o miss for me, however I love how heweaves all his characters and locations into one another.Its one of the reasons that I read his books.
Spin a Black Yarn is an Anthology of stories that are horrifying in there own rights. From a man making horrible confessions on his death bed about resisting urges he's had all his life to a wealth y couple being confronted by their past and all that they sacrificed to get where they are, which ultimately the buying one luxury item becomes their down fall and worst possible nightmare.
Spin a Black Yarn is full of ups and downs and as usual within his tellings he makes references to his other characters and locations.
If you are a fan of Malerman or any typeof phylosophical horror I recommend picking this one up.

I want to thank #Netgalley for letting me read an eArc of #SpinABlackYarn by #JoshMalerman in return for a fair and honest review.

A collection of five speculative fiction stories, "Spin a Black Yarn" has that lurking quality of the abyss staring back at us through the exploitation of human fears and secrets with a dark edge.

I have read one of Malerman's works thus far and found it to be intriguing and disturbing all at once. I looked forward to trying more of his work through the short story format. As with any author, some stories work and some do are not as successful in resonating with our personal perspective and analysis. Out of the five stories presented in this work, two of the tales were highly successful in capturing my undivided attention: "The Jupiter Drop" and "Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer(TM)".

Both "The Jupiter Drop" and "Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer(TM)" had a subtle building of tension while blatantly looking at how human egos are two sides of the same coin: they are a tool for preservation and the weapon that can cause our total destruction. The commentary on society and the individual in these stories was eerily and disturbingly accurate. It was as if Malerman was holding a mirror up to the self and seeing how far he could dig into the human psyche and the horrors that we inflict upon ourselves and one another. I will say this much, I do not think he had to dig too deep.

If you are a fan or new to Malerman's work, I think this is a great way to get a feel for his writing style and I would also recommend checking out his short novel, "A House at the Bottom of the Lake".

I read and reviewed a DRC of this work thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine via NetGalley. All honest opinions are my own.

I’ve been a Malerman fan since I picked up a copy of Birdbox sometime in 2017(?). I was excited for this new collection, but I think my favorite stories from this author are actually those in novel-length form. Spin a Black Yarn is full of what makes Malerman’s writing special—unique and memorable characters, and concepts that leave me in awe of his creative mind. That being said, only about half of the stories in this collection worked for me, and I found myself pushing through the other half. I’m still excited for what comes next, even if this collection didn’t rank as high for me as his other work.

Spin A Black Yarn is easily my favorite book of novellas to date. There was not a bad story between the five, and all had an incredibly unique view. I think my favorites were Half the House is Haunted (I would LOVE to revisit this in a full novel, it was amazing), and Argyle. The latter completely set the blurb I had read on its head, and it was amazing.
If you like your horror to hit close to home, if your family is peculiar, or you're in the market for a fresh breath of terrifying air, this is for you. I would give it more than five stars if I could.

I feel like I've heard nothing but good things about Malerman's writing, but this collection was a bit of a disappointment for me. The premises were, by and large, extremely interesting; a man confessing all the crimes he wanted to (but didn't) commit on his deathbed! A glass apartment that falls through the planet Jupiter! A machine which dredges up your past while cleaning your house!

But the stories didn't particularly capture my attention, and I didn't find myself particularly interested or engaged with them, or motivated to keep reading, which is not what I want from horror. My favorite story (and, I think, the collection's standout) was "The Jupiter Drop." I think I'll have to try something else by this author, but this particular collection ultimately wasn't right for me.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

Spin a black yarn is a book of stories that are more Novelas as opposed to short stories they had my favorite were a couple get a new fangled machine that cleans everything in their house and they can walk in they go through everything from the things they regret to the things they wish they would’ve thrown away The stories cover everything from regret revenge Love longing and much much more I found them to be a little bit longer than most short story collections but still very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it I initially thought it was horrible and they do have slight aspects of that but mostly they are just interesting fiction I found they were written in a style but anyone who loves great word play will appreciate. I want to think Net Galley and Random House publishing for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

As I’ve been saying, thank you to NetGalley once again- and to Del Rey/Random House for this ARC!

I was so excited to read an ARC for a book written by Josh Malerman, who is super good at spinning tales that always remind me of the urban legends that used to terrify me growing up. He is such a natural creative. Although not all of the stories in this collection were my cup of tea- ALL FIVE of them introduced entirely new concepts I’ve never seen in horror books before. He masterfully avoids cliches and crafts stories that will be different experiences for everyone, but are alike in their sheer originality. Props to Josh Malerman for his super new ideas!

Now to get deeper into my thoughts, I wanted to start off by saying this collection contains two stories that I enjoyed above the others. One is called “Argyle,” and it is the second story in the book. This was especially interesting, because not only is it uncomfortable and saddening to read, but it raises the moral question of what makes a person truly evil. Is it actions, or could it be merely thoughts? This is difficult to ponder and even more difficult to form a conclusion on- but just know that when you are reading about a father named Shawn making a deathbed confession, you’ll have many complicated feelings and thoughts. His explanations can be a little long winded, but if you pay attention, it is a trip through the mind of what could be quite a dangerous fellow.

The other story I really enjoyed was the third story in the book, which focuses on a new state of the art appliance called The House Washer. Doug and Judy purchase this with just a fraction of their towering mountain of money. But more so than just cleaning their house at lightning speed, The House Washer will also find a way to purge their souls… how? You’ll just have to read to find out. This is a fun one, and you will love to hate Doug and Judy. You can ask anybody in their neighborhood… they are assholes. With a lick of humor and a HINT of sci fi, this kept me entertained throughout its entire duration, and yet it’s a story about a house appliance. Bravo!

Sadly, I did not like the other three stories nearly as much.

“The Jupiter Drop” isn’t bad by any means, but for me, it was a yawn fest. I wanted out of the glass apartment myself. Though I have to admit, this does trend more toward other genres. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still scary, but I just found it… I don’t know, unfulfilling. I just didn’t have as much fun reading this one, though as usual, the concept is solid.

And sharing the spot for my least favorites in the collection would be the first story, “Half the House is Haunted,” and the final story, which is the longest and focuses on triplets living in a neighborhood called “Little Russia.”

“Half the House is Haunted” just felt incomplete for me. I know at a certain point is supposed to tie its ends together, but even when this allegedly happened, I still didn’t understand. It just felt like the rambling of a pair of siblings who, when they were younger, used to mess around with each other. I feel something deeper was being spoken of here, but for someone like me, it just felt….empty and unfulfilled.

As for the final novella in the book, it starts off strongly enough. A brother slain, and the other two in the set of triplets eager to locate his killer and take their revenge. When it begins, it feels like it’s going to be a fun and well paced story, merging crime and horror in a Russian neighborhood. Later, it becomes… kind of repetitive and messy. I also felt it was much too long, what with the true villain’s aimless rambles. The scapegoat villain’s are pretty long too, though they are fewer and far between. I didn’t dislike this one, but it could’ve stood to be as short as its counterparts and made a much stronger impact on me. It just went on for too long and got into too much detail I felt I didn’t need. Again, remarkable in concept, though.

So, there you have it. Overall, I believe there is something in this ambitious collection for every horror or even dark science fiction fan, especially if you’re looking for concepts you’ve never heard of before. Josh Malerman is a strong writer, and I love how he writes dialogue that feels natural and realistic, while keeping his stories wild and fantastical. This collection is just that.

This was overall a really incredible short story collection- a perfect showcase of Josh Malerman’s creativity and talent. Each story was unique and chilling in its own way.
Half The House is Haunted- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thought this first story was genius. I loved how the story had two sides, where you aren’t quite sure who to believe. Very eerie.
Argyle- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another unbelievably unique story! I found this story to be very uncomfortable and graphic at times- fitting for the subject matter. However, this short story had me on the edge of my seat, so excited to hear what he would say next.
Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer- ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Out of this whole collection, this story was by far the most unusual. I loved how claustrophobic the setting was- the tension was palpable. The story did start to drag in the middle, but I loved the ending.
The Jupiter Drop- ⭐️⭐️
For me, the Jupiter Drop was nothing special. I found the whole concept a little bit confusing and the main character insufferable. This story was strange and the ending was disappointing.
Ergorov- DNF… for now
I would like to finish this story, but I am having so much trouble getting into it. Will table until the audiobook becomes available from my library.

5 stories from 1 town in 1 book. I enjoyed all of the short stories, except Erogov. I think it was just too long of a story. But the others were creepy and enjoyable, reminding me somewhat of Black Mirror episodes. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be between Argyle and The Jupiter Drop.

This is my first experience reading Josh Malerman and I'm still undecided if I want to read anything else by him

Half the House is Haunted (4 Stars) - I really liked the story itself but not the stream of consciousness writing style

Argyle (3 stars) - Just not the story for me although I liked the unexpected ending

Doug and Judy buy the House Washer™ (3 stars)- Nothing special either way. Didn't love it and didn't hate it.

The Jupiter Drop (3 stars) - I didn't care about the story but now I want to experience this trip to Jupiter.

Egorov (2 stars) - I did not care for this story at all and would have DNFd the book if I read this first

I enjoyed the short story styling of the book however overall the book was just meh for me. I was wanting more and it never came.

I have read several books by Josh Malerman. Some of them have been absolute duds and others have been alright. This is one that was not a dud but just alright. Short story collections are always hit-and-miss. Argyle was probably my favorite. I could read an entire story about that. The rest were just fine. Overall, I love coming back to Josh Malerman books because his writing is entertaining but some of the stories are just alright.

Do you like weird fiction? Strange Tales? These novellas are not necessarily horror, but they do bite when you least expect it.
I loved three out of the five stories.
In my three favorites, a little girl terrifies her baby brother with frightening pranks and her insistence that half the house is haunted. Is she just evil or can she see what others can't?

A loathsome married couple's incessant need to brag and show off their status will be their undoing when their past can not be washed away.

A family man on his deathbed shares a jarring secret that blindsides his loved ones as they gather to say goodbye.
There is some supernatural horror in the mix but the majority of these stories rely on psychological scares and surprising twists.

Spin A Black Yarn is a mix of strange and fascinating novellas from Josh Malerman.

I’m honestly torn on this one. This book started of so strong. Half The House Is Haunted and Argyle were so good! And then the rest were just meh for me. Short Story collections are so tricky because the stories can be so different.

My favorite one of the bunch was Argyle. What and interesting idea and Malerman pulled it off so well. His writing was just beautiful in this story.

My least favorite was Egorov. It just felt over written to me. Normally I love that in Malerman’s writing but not in this one.

Overall I had a fun time reading Spin A Black Yarn. I know I will be thinking about Argyle for the rest of the year. As always I will continue to read anything Josh Malerman writes.
3/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Natgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big fan of this author's storytelling style, and I was not disappointed in this collection of short stories. I love how Malerman creates these tales that are so unnerving and unsettling. I always know what is bothering me in each story, but there is also a constant uneasiness that I can't quite put my finger on why.

One of my favorite ways to read horror is through short stories. I feel like that's a great medium for any horror author to really show off their style. So, this was very enjoyable for me!

Out August 15, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

DNF @ 50%; I'm grateful to have been allowed early access to this book, but I can't find the wherewithal to keep reading it. Malerman's writing is solid throughout what I read, and there are some good concepts within the stories themselves. But I was expecting horror and this is barely that. It's mostly speculative (dare I say just literary) fiction. I think if this book finds an audience of people who aren't anticipating horror, then it'll do just fine. But I think if you read this book expecting horror, you're going to be disappointed. The stories that I read all felt so long-winded, as though he were trying to reach a minimum word count for each. Eventually I would get to a point in the stories where I didn't even want to read them anymore, I just wanted to move onto the next one in hopes that it would actually be horror.

TLDR; not a bad book, just not a horror book by any stretch. I'm giving it three stars as the writing itself wasn't bad at all, and I don't want to unnecessarily berate a book that 1. I didn't finish and 2. Could have had potential to show marginal improvement by the end.

I was pleasantly surprised by this collection. There was enough substance to keep a reader who may not enjoy this short story / novella format. That’s no small feat for an author to accomplish. Some of the stories are really good - Argyle, Doug and Judy…, and The Jupiter Drop; the other two - Half the House… and Egorov - just seemed out of place for me. Overall it’s solid so check it out.