Book review for Waxwing Creek by J.J. Walker

Book summary: Built on the ruins of a house where a family was found murdered, Waxwing Creek’s legacy began with blood. From that moment, the motel has defined the town of Hunt, haunting owners, guests, and those who call it home.
With tales about a woman betting on bingo to save her life, a brother looking for justice in Hunt's dark and brutal underbelly, and a man calling on the supernatural to reunite lovers, Waxwing Creek is a collection of interconnected horror stories that uncover the motel’s most disturbing encounters.
They’re stories that examine desperation, morality, and what happens when people try to change something that should be left alone.


Book Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is an outstanding collection of interconnected horror stories. In each story, we learn about a new character that stayed at Waxwing Creek and the horrors that unfolded. The stories were a perfect blend of suspense, supernatural and horror. There were a few stories that I felt unresolved in a way. We didn’t get told what happened after the events. They just ended abruptly.
Overall, these are fantastics stories to read around a campfire, for spooky season or just when you want ti be creeped out.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc

Waxwing Creek motel was built on top of a house where a family was found murdered. It’s beginnings are borne of blood. No matter who the owner is, the motel continues to bring bad luck and terrible demise to all who attempt to stay there. The evil entity that occupied the motel manifested itself in many different ways. I really enjoyed the way this book was crafted. All of the short stories were hair-raising but it was how they were interconnected that really made for over the top creepiness!

This is one of the best horror anthologies I’ve read in awhile! I will be looking out for more from this author!

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Masterpiece of Chilling Storytelling**

J.J. Walker’s *Waxwing Creek* is an exceptional collection of interconnected horror stories that weaves a haunting tapestry of terror. Each tale is brilliantly crafted, with eerie connections that gradually reveal the dark secrets lurking in the seemingly quiet town of Waxwing Creek. Walker’s prose is both vivid and unsettling, drawing readers into a world where the ordinary twists into the macabre. The stories are diverse yet seamlessly linked, creating a cohesive narrative that builds tension with each page. *Waxwing Creek* is a must-read for horror fans, offering a perfect blend of atmospheric dread and psychological horror.

All the stories in the book keep me entertained and having chills during the reading process, it was creepy and scary, Great horror book, I liked that it tells different stories but they are all tied together! Easy quick read but very enjoyable. It kind of reminds me of dark stories to tell in the dark.

A wonderful collection of short interconnected stories, centred around the Waxwing Creek Motel.

I devoured this read as quickly as I could and enjoyed every word. A perfect blend of horror, supernatural and suspense. Each story drew me in and I definitely wanted more.

An enjoyable spooky macabre read, perfect for an afternoon read, have fun sleeping that night.

Thankyou NetGalley, After Dark Press, for my eArc.

What an awesome set of interconnected stories about a spooky motel built on the grounds of haunted house. Stories moved along a timeline from first built to its broken down existence. We meet all different types of people who have stayed and died here. Well written and highly recommend

4/5✨

Add this to your Halloween/Sp00py TBR list now. This quick read gives all the Bates Motel and 1408 vibes.

Each story is as creepy as the next and the amount of paranormal to gore is perfect. My only problem with this is that it wasn't longer, ha. I would LOVE a novella expanding on the original home/land origins that kicked off the hauntings.

Anywho, I plan to recommend this to anyone who will listen.

This collection or interconnected stories about a motel called Waxwing Creek is extremely creepy! The stories are short and pack a punch as we learn more and more about the horrifying happenings at this motel. By the end we end up with some insight into how it all began, thank goodness. I had so many questions! I recommend Waxwing Creek if you want a quick read that will get you creeped out!

A Haunted Motel is the star of this book, with horrific stories of its guests throughout the decades. Some guests try to banish the evil. Some try to destroy it. But they're all focusing on the wrong thing. If it is not the Motel that is evil, what is causing all the horrific activity?

Waxwing Creek is a fantastic collection of short, fast-paced horror stories set between 1989 and 2023. Each one can be read as a standalone, but all of them are connected and come together in its final moments. I loved this, I struggled to put it down at all, and so ended up reading 90% of the book in a single sitting which I really recommend for the aesthetic of the interconnected stories.

The plot stays focused without any unnecessary fluff all the way through, and it made for an incredibly pleasant reading experience. Walker’s writing is some of the best I've read in horror, both atmospheric and in some cases downright terrifying, and despite the short page count each character has a real voice that sets them apart from the last and the next.

Waxwing Creek is a short and memorable read, that I only wish had been longer and had given a little bit more to the ending. That said, I loved it, and I'll definitely be seeking out Walker's other work as it comes.

I saw a ton of a really good reviews for this and I knew I had to check it out before the FOMO set in. Waxwing Creek deserves all the praise it has been getting. It is a short (I blitzed through it in an hour or so) set of interconnected stories, all centering around the Waxwing Creek motel. This is a balanced mix of supernatural horror and the more real world terrors humanity brings on itself. The collection culminates in a satisfying origin story that draws the various narratives together. Set in disparate decades and with wildly different protagonists, the author has done a great job giving each story a unique and compelling voice. A great creepy read that will have you looking over your shoulder the next time you find yourself in the woods.

I received this ARC for free on NetGalley.

Rating: 4.5 stars!

The more I think about this book, the more I love it. The chapters are short but impactful. The connections between the seperate, but intertwined stories had me flying through the book. The nightmares I had afterwards were wild.

Thank you NetGalley and After Dusk Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great quick read. It is a series of short stories complied into one story that all connect together. Each story left me wanting more and asking questions as to what else happened in each one.It gave me "short stories to tell in the dark" vibes and I loved it! It brought me back to my childhood of freaking out under the covers as I couldn't stop reading and wanting to know what happened next. Great book that I would recommend to others to read.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of this book!

Waxwing Creek by J.J. Walker is a mesmerizing collection of interconnected horror stories that revolve around a motel built on the ruins of a house marked by a gruesome family murder. This sinister legacy has shaped the town of Hunt, casting a dark shadow over its residents, visitors, and especially those tied to the motel. Each story delves into the motel's eerie past, uncovering tales of desperation, morality, and the chilling consequences of meddling with forces best left alone.

From the gripping tale of a woman who bets her life on a game of bingo to a man's desperate invocation of the supernatural to reunite star-crossed lovers, Waxwing Creek weaves a tapestry of horror that is both haunting and compelling.

I absolutely loved this interconnected short story collection from beginning to end. If this were a full-length novel, I would devour it with the same fervor. Each story captivated me right from the start, with fully fleshed-out characters and rich backstories, which is particularly impressive for a novella spanning just 138 pages.

J.J. Walker's writing is masterful, entrancing readers and keeping them on the edge of their seats, biting their nails in anticipation of what comes next. The entire collection is impeccably crafted, with each story seamlessly blending into the next, creating a cohesive and enthralling narrative.

The only critique I have is that I wish it were longer. Each story was so engaging that I found myself yearning for more, eager for further exploration of the characters and their fates. This, however, is a testament to Walker's skill in creating such a vivid and immersive world that leaves readers wanting more.

Overall, Waxwing Creek is a perfect blend of horror, suspense, and emotional depth. It is a must-read for fans of the genre, and I have no reservations in giving it a well-deserved 5-star rating. J.J. Walker has crafted a collection that is both terrifying and thought-provoking, making it a standout in contemporary horror fiction.

4.5 stars
Waxwing Creek is a quick-read compendium of fictional horror short stories all centred around a motel of the same name. Stories are shared in chronological order touching on a complex and morbidly fascinating history of brutality, disappearances, and murder. Each of the stories progressively amps up the psychological suspense and questions abound - what exactly has the Waxwing Creek motel in such a supernatural stranglehold?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the stories were quick, digestible, and altogether eerie. I couldn't put it down! Not a perfect 5 star rating because honestly I feel like the premise could've been taken even further and I would really have liked it to be a bit longer. But overall, it is a deliciously satisfying macabre set of tales.

Thank you to NetGalley, J.J. Walker and After Dusk Press for this advanced digital readers copy. All opinions are my own.

I received a eARC of Waxwing Creek from the publisher and as an avid horror genre fan this book did not disappoint. It is the perfect length where I knocked it out in one sitting of about 2 and a half hours non-stop, I was gripped from the very first story. I enjoy that each story goes chronologically in time as we start at the beginning of Waxwing Creek Motel and go through decades of occurrences each one interconnected to the fabric of this motel. Not as single story feels lack luster and while every story is left open-ended it does not feel frustrating or leave me feeling it was unfinished and the end perfectly brings everything full circle. I will definitely be recommending this one to others. Thank you to Netgalley, After Dusk Press and J.J Walker for my eARC of this book.

4.5 stars!! I was so excited to get approved to read Waxwing Creek!! This suspense horror was a page turner and incredibly well written. The author captured the atmosphere of this spooky motel throughout the book, it was sooo eerie & captivating.

Each story provided more information towards the last reveal/ending.
This is one of the best horror short story collections I've ever read, I really enjoyed this one so much and would definitely read from this author again.

Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and J.J Walker for my eARC of this book and the opportunity to provide honest opinions.

Pub date: July 25th, 2024

It’s such an American experience to have some scary old hotel that you have to drive past every so often that makes your skin crawl. These motels are so often places where people go to do things in secret, and there are a lot of secrets in Waxwing Creek.

Waxwing Creek is a satisfying collection of very short stories. Characterization was very strong for the short amount of time we spend with these characters. The reader is able to quickly connect with their feelings and motivations. Hopefully it’s not too much of a spoiler to say that I really enjoyed the stories concerning mediums. Their experiences were especially vivid.

I’d happily read an extended version!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
Waxwing Creek is a collection of short stories. The stories have one thing in common: the Waxwing Creek motel. Somehow the characters or the happenings are connected to it. The stories are in chronological order (first we get a glimpse in the seance in the 80's which is the source of the following events).
First I thought the stories are some random ones about the evil touch of the motel, but then the previous events get mentioned and that connects the dots. I really loved how the author gives only little glimpses. Some stories even have an open ending and I admit that it doesn't bother me! They are really great.
I think I don't spoil the book if I say that it is full of paranormal stuff. Best recipe: take a dark origin story (the Dakotas), build a motel, organise a seance, keep the motel alive (check-check-check). And the ending... PERFECT! I couldn't imagine a better one! Thank you J. J. Walker for this gem!

This supernatural suspense horror was a page turner. Spanning across 8 timelines, and referencing the same spooky motel, I was captivated throughout! I really enjoyed the psychological depth and creepiness of characters, the unsettling atmosphere and the body horror descriptions. I loved the writing style and the references between the interconnected short stories. The stories themselves were satisfying, as they built up more information towards the reveal. And the cover is gorgeously creepy. I would definitely read more from this author.

Highly recommended.