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.

I’m usually not one to read short stories or novellas, but the descriptions of the pieces in Scott Thomas’ Midwestern Gothic roped me in, and his writing kept me there, fascinated.

I love horror, and I specifically love Midwest horror, so really, this book was a perfect fit. The descriptions of the middle two novellas really drew my attention (can’t go wrong with a good Camp Crystal Lake look-alike!).

Just to get it out there, the four novellas in Midwestern Gothic take place in the same universe, and share that universe with one of Thomas’ previous works, Kill Creek. I had no previous knowledge of Kill Creek (although it may be added to my fall reading list!). Could having previous read it have added dimension to Midwestern Gothic? It’s possible. But despite the references to it, I didn’t find my reading of Midwestern Gothic to be negatively impacted for having not.

So let’s get into the actual content of Midwestern Gothic:

The Door in the Field. The first novella has the most references to Kill Creek, or maybe just had the most obvious ones. I feel bad for Ray, honestly. He and the poor kid from the third novella really had shit deals handed to them. Ray’s story is intense, violent, and gruesome. It’s creepy and bloody, and packs in all the fear of being at the mercy of a murderer.

Wear Your Secret like a Stone. I’m always a sucker for real-life history woven into my horror, and in that aspect, this novella delivered. I’d never heard of a hunger stone but you can bet I was on Wikipedia immediately after finishing this one. And, while I’m not going to track someone down for leaving a negative review about my favorite book (even if I might want to on a bad day), I completely understand Tara’s motivations to do so. Tara’s story wasn’t the pulse-pounding thriller of Ray’s but rather a slow-burn decent into the tarnished history of her hometown.

The Boy in the Woods. Felt like Friday the 13th from Jason’s point-of-view. 10/10. No notes.

One Half of a Child’s Face. I didn’t expect to like this one, I’ll be honest. Coming right off The Boy in the Woods, the description of this novella just didn’t capture me. But as soon as Sienna turned on the Riverside Apartment Entertainment Network, I was there with her, watching every mundane detail. This one lacked the gore and intense atmosphere of the other three novellas but made up for it with the suspense and mystery. And the ending? Chef’s kiss.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book. This is everything horror should be!

This book contains four novellas that all take place in Kansas. This is my first time reading work by Scott Thomas, but it absolutely won't be the last; these stories were uncanny, suspenseful, and creepy in all the best ways. I read well into the night and actually found myself spooked after the lights were off...a rare experience for someone who consumes so much horror media, I've become a bit desensitized to it.

Thomas' writing reminds me of Stephen King's, but with more of a modern twist. The stories themselves are so vivid, I felt connected to characters I'd only just met. I admire authors who can create an atmosphere, and this author never failed to do that, whether it be by creating an ancient, alternate world that appears through a mysterious doorway, or showing us a familiar, soul-crushing box store in a small town. I could see the action of this book play out in my mind like I was watching a film.

Something I really admire about this collection of novellas is how the author created such complex characters in so short a time. With novellas, character development often falls by the wayside, but Thomas manages to build subtle backstories for even tertiary characters. He creates protagonists who feel authentic, who have moral grey areas, and who we can root for. On top of that, he creates monsters, and stirs within his readers a real sense of fear and unease.

A resounding five stars from me, and you know I'll be buying the hardcover when it comes out!

Close your eyes. Picture open plains, wheat stalks swaying gently in the wind. Picture the quaint Main Street of a one-stoplight town. Picture endless summers on sunny, tranquil lakes.

With four provocative novellas, Kill Creek author and Kansas native Scott Thomas digs his hands into the soil of the American heartland and establishes himself as the master of Midwestern Gothic.


The door in the field ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In The Door in the Field, Thomas follows a quarrelsome construction worker named Rayland Allen whose bad day becomes a far worse night when drinks at an off-the-books establishment deep in the woods set Ray down an unforeseeably bloody path.

I love Scott's writing style; the graphic, BRUTAL  imagery; the depth of these characters!! Gosh this was SOO GOOD! I couldn't put it down!! I *hoped* so hard for a different ending, but kinda knew that's not the way this was gonna go. Ray deserves so much better than the hand he was dealt. Such a fantastic read! It felt so much longer than it's quick hundred something pages, I was just entirely immersed in every word the whole way through!!

Wear your secret like a stone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Wear Your Secret Like a Stone, a big-box clerk discovers that her book pick for a Halloween display echoes a dark secret hidden beneath the idyllic facade of her hometown.

Just as fantastic as the first story! Scott's writing paints the picture so perfectly I can see every detail in my mind as I read each chapter! I REALLY loved the spooky ending that wrapped everything up into one  perfect, terrifying package!

The boy in the woods ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In The Boy in the Woods, Thomas follows young Eddie Reicher, who lingers a day too long at summer camp as unholy terror creeps in. Something evil has infected the counselors. And Eddie will have to do everything he can―even kill―if he hopes to survive the night.

This was another stellar example of phenomenal writing that instantly turns words into images and plants them directly in your brain!! I watched every terrible, brutal act and every swing of the axe as it happended! Graphic, bloody, horrible and OUTSTANDING!! I was definitely rooting for Eddie and June. A fun twist on a classic sleep away camp slasher story. Absolutely LOVED IT!!

One Half of a Child's Face ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In One Half of a Child’s Face, Thomas follows the recently divorced Sienna Franklin. Spying on her son and ex-husband, she notices an odd painting hanging on the wall of an adjacent apartment. Over the course of the next few days, Sienna will watch with growing horror as the children in the apartment building begin to gather before the painting as if called to it.

The seemingly unending feeling of dread lingered through this story. As Sienna continued watching and the mysteries kept ramping up. The grand finale was an intense battle of mind and heart that kept me locked tight in it's grip late into the night. I read until I could no longer keep my eyes open! Nerve wracking, nail biting, intense and a little heartbreaking are all things I can say about One Half of a Child's Face. A well written story to keep you on the edge of your seat! Don't miss this one!!

This book was absolutely fantastic! Each and every one of the short stories pulled me into this other universe and held me there, page after page!!

No spoilers. First impressions.
Brutal, atmospheric, and drenched with past and present blood. Unrelenting tension. I could barely look away. The strong sense of place yanked me back to my early years. The power of the land never goes away, and that created a strong connection that went beyond the people and the action.

The distinctive, masculine, and intimate voice in the first novella compelled my attention.There's something immensely satisfying about tight, rugged writing that remains true to its purpose without wavering. This collection is a wonderful tonic after books heavy on meandering interior monologue and less-than-surefooted structure.

Midwestern Horror takes a chokehold from the beginning and doesn't let go.

One of my favorite things: The combination of forces beyond human comprehension with intense violence hit a sweet spot for me. Scott displays extraordinary talent and control. I particularly value the empathy and care taken in making the characters matter. Horror where people exist to die horribly with little to distinguish them as human beings generally fails to engage me.

This is a book that will remain lodged in my memory.
I'll be watching for more books from Scott.

Thank you @NetGalley and @Inkshares for the E-Arc for consideration. I'll update this with links.

Scott Thomas has a certain talent for giving me the creeps, and I'm all about it! I've been looking forward to reading this book for months now, and it's no secret as to why. I mean, I'm a midwesterner born and raised, and I LOVE a good gothic (and Kill Creek is one of my all time favorites). And the book delivered.

I'm a bit split on the stories. I felt that The Door In The Field & A Boy In The Woods were just okay. Both of them were well written and had their share of creepy imagery that I've come to expect from ST, however the concepts didn't exactly wow me, and I don't think either of these stories will stick with me in the long run.

On the other hand, I absolutely loved Wear Your Secret Like A Stone & One Half of A Child's face. I felt like these both had such fun premises and I was really drawn into the stories. I can easily see myself coming back to this book and reading these two stories in the future.

I really enjoyed how each story tied into one of the authors from Kill Creek, and how the stories themselves reflected the type of story that those authors might write. Because of this, I'm willing to excuse the fact that I didn't connect as much with two of the stories, because they stemmed from the authors I least connected with when reading KC. I also felt that the overarching theme of haunted land was very refreshing for the gothic genre, and I'd love to read more from Scott Thomas on this theme.

amo i racconti gotici e questa raccolta è stata molto bella da leggere, la rileggerei? sicuramente.
Ve lo consiglio se cercate vibes diverse dalle solite e volete una lettura che vi trascini negli orrori del Midwest

This year I finally read and greatly enjoyed Kill Creek, Scott Thomas's popular 2017 novel. I was excited to hear he had a new book coming soon, and even more so when I heard it tied into that previous work. It isn't a direct sequel or even prequel, and the links are more along the lines of subtlety—this may disappoint fans, but conversely also makes this book easily understandable for new readers, too.

For those who haven't read Kill Creek or need their memory jogged, the basic synopsis is four very different horror authors—both in writing style and personality—are lured to a haunted house under somewhat less than truthful circumstances. Midwestern Gothic, a collection of four novellas, ties into that world by these authors. In each story here, a character is either a big fan of one of the authors, is editing a book including one of their works, or the book has important meaning to them. There's nothing here that would make these stories difficult to follow if you hadn't read KC; there's plenty of context clues in them, but it does add a little something to those who wanted to know a little more about those characters.

Much like the fictional authors, each story is different from the others. From cosmic horror to the supernatural, from slashers to folk horror, many subgenres are utilised, helping each story feel fresh and unique—even if, like me, you blast through the book in a few days. At over 450 pages and with each novella fairly similar in length, these stories don't feel rushed or incomplete, with Thomas taking the time to implement some good character development and interesting world-building.

Like any collection, the quality varies from story to story. I thought all four were at least good, and I didn't find myself wishing one would end, but personally, I liked the final two reads more than the first two. The previously released The Boy In The Woods is a really enjoyable slasher that goes into some different directions than I expected and has my favourite ending of the collection. The real gem for me though is the closing story, One Half Of A Child's Face—partly a supernatural Read Window, partly a descent into madness that'll make you wonder what is real and what is imagined; it approaches parenthood from an angle I don't remember seeing before. How do you deal with splitting custody of your child with your ex, and how do you fight the fear that maybe one of you never wanted that child at all? 

I'm looking forward to seeing the responses to this one and seeing which stories people end up pinpointing as their favorites. Each of them features Thomas's readable, strong prose, and although I found a couple of the stories to get a little dry in places, one of them in particular really did creep me out—and I wouldn't be surprised to see others found my less favourite reads to be the ones that got under their skin.

Thank you to Inkshares, NetGalley, and Scott Thomas for graciously providing me with an ARC to read and review.

This was my first time reading anything by Scott Thomas and I can't wait to read more!
This was such an enjoyable collection. All four stories were difficult to put down. Each story is well-paced and you get to know the characters well. The stories are suspenseful and not heavily gory (thank you!). There is thoughtfulness and care put into the characters and their motivations. The stories all tie back to the land, exploring the idea of the land having a darkness that predates humans: an essence and sentience of its own. The theme also touches briefly and broadly on the effects of the Midwest's brutal colonization. It is not a history lesson though. This was a great concept to explore. I would love to see a deeper exploration of this theme, perhaps by other writers.

The Door in The Field- 4 stars
I loved the in-depth exploration of the main character's psychological struggle with his identity. This was a solid folk horror read for me. It reminded me of the work of Adam Nevill, a favorite of mine.

Wear Your Secret Like a Stone- 5 stars
This was my favorite of the collection, it has a fairytale vibe to it. I love how layered the story is; tying in folklore, urban legend, and personal trauma. The ending is perfect. To avoid a spoiler, all I can say is that sacrifice does not need to require blood and flesh; there are worse things than death.

The Boy in The Woods- 4 stars
This was a take on the 80's style summer camp massacre. But who's the real killer here?! I enjoyed this take overall. The ending was rough for me though, it was just so sad.

One Half of a Child's Face- 3.5 stars
I liked watching the world through the main character's eyes in this one. Her voyeurism was secondhand fun, with the real-time realization as she did, that what she's doing is quite morally wrong. This story was the weakest in tying it back to the theme. There were details that I felt were missing. Answering some origin info about certain things would help tie the story back to the theme and make it feel whole.

Wow wow wow

Those book managed to combine two things I love, horror and short stories.

4 very distinct stories that sit comfortably in the same universe. I wanted more.

Midwestern gothic was one of the best books I’ve read in a long while. I won’t come close to spoiling this book. Even the weakest story in this collection still is amazing.

Midwestern Gothic is a collection of four novellas set in the world of Thomas’s horror debut, Kill Creek . Without sharing any spoilers, I will tell you each of the novellas connect in some way to one of the four horror authors featured in Kill Creek.

I absolutely adored this book. When I scrolled through my kindle, looking for notes for my book review, I kept finding annotations like: “OMG”s and “This is brilliant!” These weren’t particularly helpful when it came time to write my review, but they emphasized just how fantastic this book is.
Midwestern Gothic is rife with description and atmosphere, which does make the book a slower read, but if you’re picking up a “gothic” book, you shouldn’t be expecting it to have a rocket-fast pace.

Each of the four novellas carry the same imagery and themes of gothic horror, but take the genre into fresh and compelling directions. The novellas are chock full with references to gothic media. (I actually squealed with excitement at the mention of Suspiria , one of my favourite horror movies.) One of the novellas is a twist of Hitchcock’s Rear Window, and I freaking loved the execution. Another one felt like Cabin Fever meets Friday the Thirteenth, and I devoured that story in one sitting.

Thomas frequently inserts references to writing and books throughout. The first novella even has an introduction and afterword. All of this made Midwestern Gothic feel quite intelligent, well crafted, and meta.

All this, and there are chilling twists in each of the stories! I adored this book, and it will stick with me for quite some time.