I absolutely loved each of these novellas! All scary and unique in their own way, this is the perfect book for fall. I liked how this touches on different aspects of horror that are all equally scary.

MIDWESTERN GOTHIC, is a collection of four novellas by author Scott Thomas. I loved the references to his novel KILL CREEK in these, but you do not have to have read anything else to enjoy these works on their own. The stories here range from mystical, to folklore, to just plain gory, and almost cosmic. The one common factor is that they all take place in the Midwest (Kansas), and the beginnings of early settlers who took over the land.

". . . Blood for blood."

In "The Door in the Field", a construction worker named Ray takes a trip with his supervisor and discovers some of the evils hiding in plain sight, that he is one of the very few aware of.

"Wear Your Secret Like a Stone", combines German Folklore and several Kill Creek references (a bonus "easter egg" for those who have read the novel). This was my second favorite of the tales. A clerk at a big market store has her pick for "Favorite Halloween Book" removed from the shelves, and goes about investigating who, and why this was so. The longest story here, I loved the Folklore, learning from the town's other residents, and the overall atmosphere. "There are shadows in the forest that cannot be trees. . . "

"The Boy in the Woods" addresses a particularly gory menace that just happens to be near a summer camp, and a scarred young man who is left dealing with the impossible.

"One Half of a Child's Face" was the last, and my personal favorite, story in this collection. Sienna, a divorced mother with one daughter, spends every other weekend on her balcony, overlooking an apartment complex down the hill, where her ex-husband and girlfriend reside. On those weekends where Maya, the daughter, is with her father, Sienna looks upon the windows of various tenants, making up "reality television" dramas out of the scenes she sees played out. When a mysterious antiquities van arrives one night, and a very peculiar painting is left in a previously empty apartment there, voices and images begin to haunt her. Is something truly after her daughter, or is she losing her mind? The cosmic-feel of this one really had me hooked into it, and the fact that Sienna is editing a manuscript about "The Midwestern Gothic" at the same time brings the images even more into focus.

Overall, this was a fantastic sampling of horror from author Scott Thomas. I enjoyed each story for its own merits, and loved the differences in each one while appreciating how they were linked by the land they resided on, alone.

Thank you to NetGalleyand the Publisher for an eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own.

I really wanted to love this but it just fell kinda flat for me but pls hold because you should prob still read it...

I'm a big fan of Scott Thomas, having read and enjoyed both Violet and Kill Creek, so when I learned he was writing some gothics (i.e. my fav subgenre) set in the midwest (i.e. where I grew up) I said sign me upppppp!

I did enjoy the opening exposition - what the gothic genre is and how a community relates to the history of the land they inhabit. I saw the threads throughout these stories and can appreciate Midwestern Gothic as an idea. But damn, I wish this was either four full-length novels or four short stories in a bigger collection. They somehow managed to feel padded with unnecessary information AND leave me underwhelmed by the ending. Every time I was just like, okay?? That's it??? (Actually, now that I'm on this train of thought I really like the idea of shortening these and including them in a larger short story collection that ends with One Half Of A Child's Face where all the vignettes come together as the neighbors that the main character has been watching instead of television)

Either way, Scott Thomas continues to impress me with his ability to write believable and unlikeable characters and weird ass gore. And for that I can't really fault him. This was worth the read and I will definitely be picking up his next release!

Individual ratings:
The Door In The Field - 3 stars
Construction site drama is SO midwest coded. Long toenails clacking on the floor. Foreign objects should not go in between your radius and ulna. Ew.

Wear Your Secret Like A Stone - 3 stars
(Not-)Walmart big box store drama, we love. Even more gore, WE LOVE!! Drowning is an underrated fear. Thanks for the reminder of my sleep paralysis demon.

The Boy In The Woods - 4 stars
Summer camp horror but like, not what you'd expect. Teenagers are GROSS and MEAN. This is the most disgusting and, obvi, my favorite of the collection.

One Half Of A Child's Face - 4 stars
Kids are creepy. Neighbors are nosey. It really doesn't get more midwestern than that.

AND THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND INKSHARES FOR MY FIRST EVER ARC I CRY 🥲

this book is a dnf.

i really tried to get into it, but every single time i was just not hooked.
i don’t mean it when i mark it a 1star book, but i don’t know how to mark a dnf any other way

This is probably one of the strongest companion pieces to a preexisting novel I have read in a very long time.

Midwestern Gothic exists in the liminal space between a sequel and spinoff.

While Kill Creek gives us a glimpse into the fictional authors (who are stand-ins for IRL authors and their respective types of horror), Midwestern Gothic is for their readers.

Thomas expertly weaves in the works of these authors into characters that really highlight the effects and manifestation of horror into the American midwest.

This was a really great book and I enjoyed each individual story!

They were all unique and scary - perfect horror reads.

The best thing about the four novellas in this collection are their uniqueness. Each one was interesting, engrossing, and devoid of the typical tropes that usually mar stories of this genre. I wasn't sure where the stories were going; I found myself genuinely curious as to how they would develop and what was coming around the bend. My favorite was the first story, which was odd because on paper it should been my least. But the author manages to make the reader care about the characters and the ordeals they are going through. Each character is unique and fully developed. The stories are roughly 100 pages each, but the backstory and development is rich and textured and immersive.

Which leads me to my one drawback to these stories. There was so much backstory and so much buildup that there were times I forgot I was even reading a horror story. In a couple of instances, it felt like 2/3 buildup and then a dash through the horror elements of the story. Like I said previously, the stories were excellent and well written, but there were times it felt as if a little bit of editing would have been beneficial. However, when the horror does come, it is effective and unlike anything I've read before. The reader thinks they know what is coming, but at least in my case, that's not what happens.

I would definitely look for more from this author. I know that his other works tie-in in some way and I would be curious to see how. I have not read his other work, and I was wasn't confused by missing information, so you can read this as a standalone.

These 4 novellas are excellent - 4 different genres of horror tied together by a common place. If you like Southern or Appalachian gothic type stories, you will love this. Highly recommended.

This story collection was fabulously chilling. If you're a horror fan, then you need it. I have yet to read Kill Creek but heard there are Easter Eggs (I love when authors do this) so I will have to be sure to get to reading that soon and see what I can catch. I loved the atmosphere of the stories and would definitely read this author again.

Being a Midwestern girl who loves horror, I took a chance on this author and decided to give these four novellas a try. I was not let down! The four stories are…

The Door In The Field: Set primarily in Wichita, Kansas, this is a beautifully written horror/fantasy story about a man who has a choice to make. I think it’s up to the reader to decide whether or not he made the right one. 4/5

Wear Your Secret Like A Stone: When a blatant act of extreme horror censorship hits a big box store in Blantonville, Kansas, it leads to a girl trying to learn more about the creepy past of the small town, with terrifying results… 3.5/5

The Boy In The Woods: This slasher story about a disfigured boy being bullied at summer camp was FANTASTIC! The creep (and the camp, pun intended) were strong with this one. 5/5

One Half Of A Child’s Face: A piece of artwork infiltrates an apartment building, but luckily one mother has been watching, and listening - listening very closely - and knows just what to do… 4.5/5

Overall, this is a great and unique collections of stories; everyone loves southern gothic, but what about the Midwest? Each novella had its own feel, but they were all tied geographically, with a little history mixed in the horror. Four stars.

(Thank you to Inkshares, Scott Thomas and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 17, 2024.)

In Midwestern Gothic you get four different novels in one single book: The Door in the Field, The Boy in the Woods, One Half of a Child’s Face and Wear Your Secret Like a Stone. Each individual story is about 110 pages long - optimum length for a short but sweet horror story without it being boring or dragging.

In The Door in the Field we follow Rayland Allen who, after a freakish accident, becomes a shadow of his former self - a very angry version. One day, after accompanying his boss, Don, for a drink after work, he discovers more than he bargained for.
This was definitely the weakest among the short stories which is not to say it was bad, on the contrary; i enjoyed the storytelling and the plot was unlike anything i’ve ever read. Nonetheless, it didn’t blow my mind like the other stories did and its ending is also open for interpretation - not my personal favorite type of ending. It’s a 3/5 for me.

In The Boy in the Woods we follow Eddie Reicher, a young child whose face has been transfigured in a vicious attack by a Rottweiler. Being apart of a camp - and being bullied by his fellow campers - Eddie is afraid that the councilors banquet will only propel him to feel more excluded by his peers. However, when the night turns into a blood-bath, his initial fears are soon forgotten.
This one gives very much slasher vibes. I was holding on to my kindle thought the whole length of the story and i genuinely could not put it down until i reached the last page. The suspense of it made my heart beat like crazy. It’s a 5/5 for me.

In One Half of a Child’s Face we follow Sienna Roh, a newly divorced mother that finds comfort in observing the lives of her neighbors through a toy telescope.
The writing of this short story created a very eery and unsettling atmosphere - especially when the tale started to take some very bizarre turns. It’s a 4.5/5 for me.

In Wear Your Secret Like a Stone we follow Tara Bright, a fellow bookworm. Since Halloween is very near, her boss decides that each employee shall recommend a horror book. Following a complaint about Tara’s choice, she tries to track down who had her book removed from the display, resulting in dark secrets being unveiled.
The storytelling in this one was very similar to One Half of a Child’s Face for me. Although starting off in a very jolly manner - different from the previous tale - it soon takes a very dark turn. It’s a 4/5 for me.

If you’d like to dip your toes in your very first horror book, i think Midwestern Gothic is a very good choice. Apart from having four different but absolutely enjoyable novels, you get to experience different subgenres of horror. Each narrative will keep you on the edge with these unsettling and haunting tales.

I was a huge fan of Kill Creek, so I was very excited for the chance to read the ARC for Midwestern Gothic. Overall, a great collection - and one I would recommend for fans of Kill Creek or Violet for sure (or anyone who enjoys this genre).

Creepy and not for the timid - backwoods horrors, rural folklore come to life, Lovecraftian horrors in the woods, and no one has a happy ending. Don't read it at night, or, you know, in the woods ...

I've never visited the Midwestern US, but I can now say that Scott Thomas gave me a little dark tourism glimpse at the state of Kansas in his highly enjoyable collection of novellas that make up Midwestern Gothic.  These are four separate stories with some loose connections to one another as well as the author's previously published work.  While each tale is very much a standalone, they all share common themes of ancient evil and curses, guilt, and the simmering heat and volatility of a land that has been conquered and abused, and is out for blood.  These are stories of characters who are paying back a deadly debt to that land.  

"The Door in the Field" - The story of a man with a violent temper who spends a night he will never forget with a coworker who is hiding something even deadlier than human rage.  This first story, I must admit, was a disappointment.  I found it overly long and the lore behind the events seemed a bit flimsy.  I also found the framing story of this novella completely unnecessary and it just added to the dissonance I felt when reading this one.  The writing was still good and the story had an excellent sense of the setting and established the "Midwestern Gothic" feel of the collection very well. 3 stars.

"Wear Your Secret Like a Stone" - When the manager of the store she works for rejects her choice of book for the Halloween display, a young horror fan's search for an explanation will deliver more answers than she bargained for in this haunting tale.  My favorite story of the collection, this one has a number of really effectively creepy scenes.  After my disappointment with the first story, I was invested in "Wear Your Secret" right away.  There were parts of this story that reminded me a bit of the works of Charles L. Grant, as well as a favorite horror movie of mine.  I'm deducting half a star because there still seemed like there were too many ideas thrown into the mix here, none of which were completely fleshed out in the end.  This contributed to the dreamlike quality, but also left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.  4.5 stars.

"The Boy in the Woods" - A young boy who suffers from severe facial scarring (and the bullying that comes with it) finds himself spending an extra night at summer camp, alone with the counselors and one other forgotten camper, when things take a turn for the decidedly bloody.  This is an action-packed summer camp slasher with a couple of twists and an end that took me by surprise.  Unlike the other novellas, this story isn't particularly Midwestern in tone, this could be any generic, summer camp setting, but there are still some similar prevailing themes like debts to the land and ancient evil. 4.5 stars.

"One Half of a Child's Face" - The collection takes a bit of a meta twist in this novella about Sienna, an editor who is working on a manuscript discussing the defining themes of the "Midwestern Gothic" (written by one of the characters from the author's previous novels, <i>Kill Creek</i>).  The little snippets of the manuscript that are shared with the reader throughout this story are a satisfying way to summarize the narrative threads that runs throughout this collection as a whole. But that's not all that's going on here, because Sienna is playing a bit of Rear Window with the apartment building up the hill from her house, where her ex-husband lives with his current girlfriend.  After a mysterious oversized portrait is delivered to a seemingly abandoned apartment on the top floor of the building, events take a sinister turn.  As Sienna spies on her ex and his neighbors, she's going to soon find she doesn't like what she sees in the Riverside Apartments.  In more ways than one.  Another excellent novella, not as creepy as "Wear Your Secret Like a Stone," but I enjoyed this one almost as much.  4.5 stars.

With Midwestern Gothic, Scott Thomas does an excellent job evoking a real sense of place in the dusty, dry heat of his home state.  The writing is immersive and enjoyable, and there was more than one or two chills delivered, despite the stifling air of a Kansas summer.  I look forward to reading more of the author's work in the future.

Midwestern Gothic is set for publication on September 17, 2024.  My thanks to Inkshares and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for an honest review.

I really liked this short story collection, especially since the stories were all connected. Also if you loved Kill Creek, like I did, there are lots of easter eggs scattered throughout this book. Each of the stories was really spooky in different ways, Scott Thomas is so good at creating a creepy atmosphere. I appreciate hearing tales of Kansas from a fellow Kansan!

Great book. All four novellas had their own distinct feel and I enjoyed them very much! It's a solid four star book and will read more of this authors work. Definitely someone to look out for!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This made me a Scott Thomas fan and now I want to go back and read his other two novels. To be fair, I already had both of his other novels on my list to read but never found the occasion to pick either up. Now they have both jumped to the top of the priority list. Something about a good midwestern story really hits my soul despite having grown up entirely in the northeast of the country. I was a little nervous when I started this because it does have connections to Kill Creek (previous novel) and I thought I would be a little lost because I hadn't read that yet. You absolutely do not need to read Kill Creek to enjoy any of these stories but I imagine that I did miss some of the fun connections that fans would pick up. It does make me extremely excited to pick up Kill Creek and see where those connections are. Each of these stories is its own entity and yet these four stories mesh so incredibly well together into one collection. Thomas's writing is absolutely phenomenal. These stories pulled me in so thoroughly that there were multiple days in a row where I almost missed my stop on the train because I was engrossed in the story. The way he immediately made me connect with the characters is not something every author can do and each of these stories thrives on character work. They all have fun plots but the characters shine. I will say that if you are looking for a collection to scare you, this one didn't really scare me in a way other stories can. But it is not a negative for me because they were still phenomenal stories. Midwestern gothic stories are definitely for me!

**4 out of 5 stars**

*A Dark and Atmospheric Journey into the Heartland*

Scott Thomas's *Midwestern Gothic* is a chilling and atmospheric collection that delivers exactly what the title promises: a dive into the eerie and unsettling underbelly of the American Midwest. As a fan of Thomas's previous works, I had high expectations, and I'm happy to say this book did not disappoint.

*Midwestern Gothic* consists of four novellas, each one unique yet connected by the overarching theme of haunted land—land that has absorbed the blood and horrors of its past. Thomas expertly weaves together elements of cosmic horror, psychological terror, and outright gore, creating stories that are as diverse as they are terrifying. If you’ve read *Kill Creek*, you’ll appreciate the nods to Blantonville, Kansas, though prior knowledge isn’t necessary to enjoy this collection.

One of the strengths of this book is the way Thomas turns the Midwest, a region often associated with tranquility and simplicity, into a setting of pure dread. The land itself becomes a character, imbued with a malevolent force that seeps into the lives of the people who inhabit it. Whether it’s a mysterious door in a field, a summer camp that becomes a nightmare, or a woman who spends her days spying on her neighbors with disturbing consequences, each story is imbued with a sense of place that grounds the horror in a deeply unsettling reality.

The standout for me was the final novella, which channels a *Rear Window* vibe with a twist that is both clever and chilling. The protagonist, who is editing a book about gothic tales in the Midwest, becomes part of a gothic tale herself—a meta narrative that adds an extra layer of brilliance to the story.

However, not every story hit the mark for me. The first novella, in particular, didn’t quite grab my attention as much as the others, but the remaining three more than made up for it. Thomas’s ability to craft such distinct and memorable tales within the same collection is a testament to his skill as a horror writer.

Overall, *Midwestern Gothic* is a must-read for horror fans, especially those who appreciate a slow burn that pays off in spades. The book captures the eerie essence of the Midwest in a way that few others have, turning familiar landscapes into places of terror and mystery. It’s dark, it’s twisted, and it’s utterly compelling. Highly recommended for those who love their horror with a side of the unexpected.

*Thank you to Inkshares Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

**"Midwestern Gothic" by Scott Thomas** is a chilling collection of four novellas that solidifies Thomas’s reputation as a master of eerie, atmospheric horror. Praised by notable outlets such as the New York Times, NPR, and the American Library Association, this collection dives deep into the unsettling and the macabre, each novella a testament to Thomas’s skill in crafting haunting tales rooted in the American heartland.

1. **"The Door in the Field"**: This novella follows a construction worker who, after an ordinary day turned sour, finds himself in an off-the-beaten-path bar where the night takes a horrifying turn. The blend of gritty realism and supernatural horror in this story is both gripping and disturbing, as Thomas masterfully builds tension and suspense. The sense of dread intensifies as the protagonist’s seemingly routine troubles spiral into a night of unimaginable terror.

2. **"The Boy in the Woods"**: Set in a summer camp plagued by a sinister force, this novella brings forth an unsettling narrative where a young boy must navigate a night of growing horror. The infection of evil among the counselors adds layers of psychological horror to the story, making the camp setting both familiar and terrifying. Thomas’s portrayal of fear and survival is both raw and compelling, capturing the essence of childhood vulnerability against a backdrop of malevolent forces.

3. **"One Half of a Child’s Face"**: Here, a woman’s seemingly innocuous spying on her daughter and ex-husband leads her to an eerie discovery—a painting that seems to beckon the children of the building. The slow unraveling of this novella reveals Thomas’s talent for creating tension through subtle, unsettling details. The painting serves as a chilling symbol, and the narrative’s exploration of familial relationships and hidden fears enhances its gothic atmosphere.

4. **"Wear Your Secret Like a Stone"**: This novella delves into the life of a big-box store clerk whose Halloween display book holds dark secrets about her seemingly perfect hometown. Thomas weaves a story where personal and communal secrets intertwine, creating a rich tapestry of suspense and horror. The exploration of the protagonist’s discovery and the town’s concealed darkness makes this story a poignant reflection on the facades people maintain and the truths they hide.

In **"Midwestern Gothic,"** Scott Thomas digs into the soil of America’s heartland, extracting narratives that are as disturbing as they are profound. His ability to blend psychological tension with gothic horror creates a collection that is both evocative and unsettling. Thomas’s evocative prose and mastery of atmosphere make this book a standout in the genre. Fans of *Kill Creek* and *Violet* will find much to admire here, while new readers will be drawn into the dark, enigmatic worlds Thomas so deftly conjures. This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates horror that digs deep into the soul and the shadows lurking in everyday life.

Midwestern Gothic delivers horror nostalgia vibes via gothic stories midwestern style in four chilling novellas.

While I was not the biggest fan of Thomas’s Kill Creek, the concept of the midwestern gothic was too interesting to pass up and I’m glad I gave it a chance. While not directly connected to Kill Creek it does take place in that universe and is loosely connected through the writers in that novel. I was really intrigued by the concept and wanted to follow even more folklore and spookiness of the area and its inhabitants. If you haven’t read Kill Creek you don’t have to worry as this is readable as a standalone collection.

The four novellas in the collection consist of a nice variety and I think suited the fictional writers related to the story well. Sacrifices to the land to ensure prosperity, serial killers meeting the needs of capitalist expansion, The Troop-esque summer camp experience with 80’s sci-fi horror vibes, and a bit of Rear Window meets new housing community built on sacred land. I would definitely read more stories taking place in this cursed area.

On the not so positive side I didn’t really vibe with the characters and was kind of dreading the T.C. Moore chapter as I had serious issues with the way the author’s portrayal of women in Kill Creek. I think this is an improvement over that book but it took me while to get into the stories and the characters. I think the author’s strongest point is in the concepts and once the stories started coming together I really enjoyed it.

If you’re looking for a read that will put you on edge, stories about horrors in small towns, and a bit of an 80’s horror/sci-fi vibe this is a fun read.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.