This Damned House is a collection of four novelettes bound with a wraparound story of the strange man who lives in the house upon the hill, forever obsessing over the people of Greenwood Planes. Clean Freak
Growing up in filth can make a clean freak out of anyone, but what can even the most avid housekeeper do against a verminous invasion that seems to come out of nowhere? Behind the Greasepaint
Brazzy the Clown is a drunk. After another abysmal birthday party, she decides to finally commit to killing herself, only she finds that Death doesn’t want her yet.
As I Lay Rotting
What happens when a couple of aging goths start to rot from the outside in? Can they get away from the threat at their door that wants their putrid flesh?
Photo-Graphic Content
It started with a picture of his son molesting the family dog. Then more pictures showed up. Then videos. Soon a tight-knit family of four turn on one another as horrific secrets are unveiled."

Four short horror stories, if you like short stories and like horror quick reads, this is the book for you. I give this book 4 stars.
Thanks to netgalley, infected voice publishing for the opportunity to leave an honest review.
Published August 15th, 2023

Robert Essig brings four short stories together perfectly. I like how he showed different families and their own horrifying tales. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced ARC.

This is a collection of four (or five, really) connected short stories. The first story, "Clean Freak" made my skin crawl- I will be having nightmares for weeks. WEEKS! My favorite in the collection was "As I Lay Rotting" I found it to be beautiful and heartbreaking. Each story in this collection has a claustrophobic, locked-in theme and has some top tier disturbingly vivid body horror. I will definitely be checking out more by this author.

Such a unique book! This is definitely a fourplex from hell. Each tenant has their own devastating story and could easily stand on its own. However, the ending ties their stories together seamlessly.

Robert Essig has become a legend over the years and this one doesn't change that statement.
this one is fast and qucik to the point, getting you wrapped up immediately.
Not for the faint of heart. But you will enjoy it for sure.

Prepare to be shaken to your core with "This Damned House" by Robert Essig. This collection of four novelettes, bound together by a chilling wraparound story, delves into the darkest recesses of terror and despair, leaving readers haunted long after the final page is turned.

The synopsis of the book provides a glimpse into the horrors that await within its pages, but nothing can truly prepare you for the visceral intensity of Essig's storytelling. Each novelette is a masterclass in horror, plunging readers into a nightmarish world where the boundaries between reality and nightmare blur into oblivion. From the relentless onslaught of vermin in "Clean Freak" to the gut-wrenching revelations of "Photo-Graphic Content," every story is crafted with meticulous detail and unrelenting suspense.

What sets "This Damned House" apart is Essig's exceptional writing style, which elicits a range of mental, emotional, and physical responses from readers. With vivid descriptions and heart-stopping imagery, Essig draws you into a realm of terror where every shadow hides a new horror and every page sends shivers down your spine. I found myself on the edge of my seat, unable to tear my eyes away from the unfolding nightmare.

The wraparound story, which connects the individual novelettes into a cohesive narrative, adds an extra layer of intrigue and suspense to the book. With each interlude, Essig builds tension and anticipation, leading to a climax that leaves you breathless and reeling from the sheer intensity of the journey.

"This Damned House" is not for the faint of heart. It's a book that will test your limits and push you to the brink of terror. But for those brave enough to venture into its dark and twisted corridors, it's a journey that will leave an indelible mark on your soul.

In conclusion, "This Damned House" is a masterpiece of horror fiction that deserves a place on every horror aficionado's bookshelf. With its spine-chilling tales and unrelenting suspense, it's a 5-star recommended read that will leave you sleepless and trembling with fear. So brace yourself, dear reader, and prepare to be utterly and irreversibly haunted by "This Damned House."

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy in exchange for an honest opinion. Review has been posted on Amazon.

Four short stories help tell a larger narrative in this collection from Robert Essig. I greatly enjoyed how each story stood on its own, while feeding into the larger narrative that eventually ties everything together. This book is horror, and can be a little extreme at times. The final story is not for the faint of heart. This is definitely one that will get responses from you on multiple levels, and will sit with you long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

This Damned House is a short story collection revolving around four groups of people living in the same apartment building that's been newly patched up by the owner.

Every story draws out a fear that links the characters' past or issues, and the house materializes these in the most disgusting way, making the most out of all the possible body horror scenarios out there. The anthology deals with bugs, alcoholism, abuse, the obsession with death, and Essig saved the most gruesome story for the last, Photo-Graphic Content. My favorite story is probably Clean Freak.

I'm a bit iffy on the writing style because sometimes it feels a bit too much telling via dialogue instead of showing. But this is the horror book to read if you want short stories that are intertwined neatly with an overall bigger narrative. Prepare to be disgusted.

Thank you NetGalley and Infected Voices Publishing for the copy.

I love the concept of short stories tying together. It was a super fun read. Definitely read the trigger warnings if you need them

Can a clean freak defeat a invasion that came from no where? Brazzy the clown wants things to end but there are other plans for her. These and two other tales to chill your bones. These stories will make you shiver and consider what if. I received a copy from NetGalley for review

Very creepy! It had my skin crawling while reading about all the cockroaches, cringing at the vultures attacking their mangled bodies, imagining a vodka and blood slit wrist suicide, and losing sleep to find out what happens to a family after coming across strange and perverted photographs of each other. This will stay with me for awhile! Will be reading much more from Robert Essig in the future!

This is my first time reading Essig, and it won’t be my last—this collection of four connected short stories was great.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of them, but my favorite was “Clean Freak.” That story had me itchy! If you hate bugs, you’ll hate reading this 😬

Essig created a cohesive book of stories that not only has body horror, but a great deal of psychological horror as well—it was a perfect combo.

I highly recommend this to any splatterpunk or extreme horror fan!

Well, that was fun. And weird. And gross. And horrible. Kind of exactly what I was looking for.
This book is a collection of horrible stories tied together by a house and person. It's particularly fun because the stories keep getting worse.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I really enjoyed this gruesome connected collection of novelettes by Robert Essig. Great stories and outstanding writing, but it gets pretty nasty, so not recommended if you are highly sensitive to child or animal abuse. They way these stories were connected enhanced the experience for me compared to reading a collection of unrelated stories. This was the first thing I've read by Essig, but it won't be the last! Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read this ebook.

I have read Robert’s work before so I knew what I was getting into. But still! This book grabbed me completely and it still has a hold on me still.

This book is a collection of short stories that connects at the end. And the last main story is not for weak stomachs. It pushes the envelope for sure to wrap it all up in this crazy bow. I suggest you don’t eat while you read this book.

It was amazing.

This Damned House was shocking and disturbing and terrifying and creepy and (the list truly goes on and on)!!

The first thing to know about this book and the stories it contains is that - THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! It pushes the boundaries and as a fan of Robert Essig, I knew some of what to expect, but this took a new thrilling perspective that I wasn't expecting. (And Readers are going to love this even more because of it)!

This story follows a cursed home and perhaps an even more cursed family (depending on how you look at it). Nevertheless, each story in this collection is connected via this cursed home, and you'll be racing to discover how each story is connected.

I don't want to give too much away. But here are some of my favorite take aways from this truly devastating collection. I physically recoiled and actually gagged reading a few parts. This writing made me actually ill. I screamed at this book during one particular climax in a story. I felt horrified and disgusted.

All of these components combine to make a truly harrowing and terrifying thrill ride and extreme horror readers everywhere are going to devour this with a sickening glee. Check it out!

Perfect for fans of Aron Beauregard, Duncan Ralston, and Kristopher Triana!

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in Oct, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

I really enjoy horror and dark twisted books so these stories were right up my alley! I will 100% be reading more by Robert Essig soon.

“She winced and reached for her leg, just above the foot that looked like spoiled meat.”

Essig gives us a dark and gritty collection of intertwined tales in this new story. From roaches, to alcoholism, to decaying while alive, to horrifying family secrets exposed.

As you delve further into the book, there are short segments about a man named Markus and the models he creates and works on in his attic. You’ll soon learn how he and all the stores connect and it’s a very interesting concept.

I did find the first and second stories a little underwhelming. Some of the characters in the tales felt superficial; I get it, these are short stories, but I wanted to understand Tom and Angela more especially.

“The meat mallet felt heavier than Emily expected, but comfortable in her grasp. She didn’t think about what she did. It didn’t come naturally, but more as a result of extreme trauma and heartache. A lashing out. A reprieve for her tormented soul.”

The last tale, “Photo-Graphic Content” was the most extreme, and I think my favourite part of the book (despite the vileness within the tale). It was so terrible how the family started to doubt each other as the photos showed up, and the ensuing chaos turned brutal.

Thank you to NetGalley, & Robert Essig for a copy!