I love grief horror and the fact that this is so short made it pack a punch even more. Completely devastated but felt a sense of hope too

⛓️ ALC REVIEW ⛓️

Thank you @netgalley , @brilliancepublishing and @catward66 for my early copy of Night and Day in Misery!

This was a short story instalment in The Shivers collection and for a short story, this packed a PUNCH! It was creepy and it was devastating and I enjoyed the hell out of it!! Cat does it again baby!

This audio will be released tomorrow April 15 and you need to get your filthy paws on it!

Night and Day in Misery by Catriona Ward is an unsettling, mind-bending masterpiece that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Ward has a way of weaving psychological tension into every page, and by the time I finished it, I felt like I’d just stepped out of a dream—or more accurately, a nightmare.

The story is a slow burn, but in the best way possible. It takes its time to build atmosphere, carefully laying the groundwork for what’s to come. The alternating perspectives kept me engaged, offering glimpses into the minds of characters who are deeply flawed and hauntingly real. Ward has a remarkable ability to create people who feel like they could be your neighbors, yet their lives are laced with dark, twisted edges.

What really struck me about Night and Day in Misery was its exploration of duality. The constant back-and-forth between light and darkness, hope and despair, is woven into every aspect of the story. It’s as much about the characters’ internal battles as it is about the external horrors they face. The way Ward plays with perception—what is real and what isn’t—had me questioning every moment, every word, until the very end.

The pacing is relentless, not in an overtly fast way, but in the way tension builds with each passing chapter. Ward doesn’t rush the reveals; instead, she lets the suspense grow organically, letting the dread seep into the narrative until you can’t help but feel consumed by it.

By the end, I was both horrified and moved. Night and Day in Misery is a book that stays with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a dark, beautifully crafted psychological thriller that explores themes of identity, perception, and survival in a way that only Catriona Ward can. If you enjoy books that make you think, make you feel, and make you question everything you thought you knew, this one is not to be missed.

Having previously enjoyed Catriona Ward's writing I was excited to see her included in this collection, and her writing is as solid as ever. This is a hugely sad story, and so I would advise some readers approach with caution (check for content warnings folks) but a solid offering and one that may convince new readers to pick up more of her work.

This was such a solid short horror story! Definitely be warned that it involves the death of a small child (which you see in the Book Description. But overall, I could feel the tension, and as a mother, could deeply relate to the feelings of the main character. This story felt like it had a full arc and gave you all the creepy and emotional feelings throughout. And it’s a really good audiobook!

I would love it if this book would be available through libraries and not exclusively on Amazon. The story is incredible and stayed with me long after reading. Heartbreaking and devastating.

Thank you Brilliance Audio & Catriona Ward for this read!!

This book ripped my heart apart! This one is definitely a sad grief horror - check trigger warnings. It's emotional and confronting. There is some supernatural / paranormal elements but this one is horror in the way you need to go through it all with the narrator.

Grab your tissues with this one and strap yourself in for a journey back to room 17 where this all began.

The narrator was absolutely amazing. They added so much emotion to it!

This short story was just okay for me. I don’t know if it was the writing or the story. I just didn’t jive with it.
We follow Stella who went through a tragic event. She books a hotel room, while trying to sleep she has some crazy dreams.

what a sad story. it's the first Ward story I didn't hate. People need to read this. Yup....need to add more words

Solid 3 stars. I’m not sure if it’s anything special, but hey it was an hour on audio, so a perfect soooky bedtime story.

I loved The Last House on Needless Street and couldn’t wait to dive into another story by Catriona Ward. Great narration for this “haunting” short story which is part of the Shivers Collection.
There are TW so reading the synopsis would be helpful. I am not often triggered by a storyline but this one was had some difficult moments.
The primary focus is on the mother’s emotions and the child's death, yet it remains an engaging read.
This review does not include any spoilers, as the synopsis covers the key points I mentioned.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A short story with themes of horror, grief, loss and paranormal aspects. I thought these themes were blended perfectly together with the perfect touch of real human experience with a side of terror.

The audio version was an excellent quick listen which only took an hour to complete, if you have some time to kill this audio book is a great way to do it!

Thank you for the gifted copy

Publish date: April 15th

A woman loses her son when her ex has an accident while drinking and driving. On the anniversary of her son's death, she goes to the lodge in order to "be" with her son for eternity. However, strange things begin to happen revealing exactly what happened that night. This was such a tragic and sad story with paranormal elements. grief is something that has touched many of us, and Ward does an amazing job at showing us how that grief does not necessarily get better with time.
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Mia Hutchinson-Shaw really captured the always unsettling eerie mood Catriona Ward creates with her words and style! Night and Day in Misery is a fantastic story, I love a compelling short story as I feel it's an art form for a writer to immediately draw us into her world and setting/characters, make us care/want more, and to wrap it all up in satisfying way (all within an hour on audio!). This was a big win for me, the hotel room setting was perfect for Ward's style and her homage to horror themes.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 4/15
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Night and Day in Misery is apart of The Shivers collection by Amazon Original Stories. Along with Catriona Ward are other amazing and talented authors such as Joe Hill, Grady Hendrix, Owen King, and Stephen Graham Jones. It is a collection of short horror stories.
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I devoured this one in one sitting. It is super short, a little over an hour via audiobook. I was immediately hooked to this story. I loved the eeriness of the hotel room; I loved the paranormal aspect, and the backstory was both terrifying and heartbreaking. While it was super short it was fast paced, kept my attention and it really packed a punch. It was pure perfection and of course - Catriona Ward is a queen, so i will literally read anything that she writes so there is that.
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The audiobook was narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. She was fantastic and because of this I could completely visualize the entire story. Highly recommend the audio!
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Overall, this is a huge win for me. Anyone looking for a quick horror fix should definitely give this one a go! I am very much looking forward to reading the rest in this series. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Catriona Ward and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an advance audio copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley and the publishers.

Night and Day in Misery is a short story that surround the horrors of grief and loss. Stella's son and abusive alcoholic husband died in an accident, and still eight years later, Stella is overtaken by her grief of losing her son and the mental torment she suffers with the way it happened. Stella spends the anniversary of their deaths in a hotel room, spiraling in memories and what-if's.

I love grief horror. It resonates with me, it pulls my heartstrings, it leaves me with a deep feeling of sadness, and Ward captured all of those feelings for me in a short 1.5 hour audiobook. I love Catriona for always being able to set a firm sense of dread in her stories that weaves through until the very end. The creepiness of the hotel, Stella's spiral into grief, and the sense of hopelessness really bring this story together through different timelines for a satisfying ending.

This story did get a bit convoluted for me in the middle and I had to rewind a couple of times to get back on track, but otherwise, I thought this was a really great short story written by one of my very favorite authors!

Thank you Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the early Arc of Night and Day in Misery by Catriona Ward.
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I personally love short stories and have always been a fan of the Amazon Original short stories that get released. I was super excited to see another series being launched by some of my favorite authors.
As a mother, this short story pulled at my heart strings. I can’t imagine the grief of losing a child. But I imagine the pain would feel like what listening to this short story was like. I could feel the pain that Stella felt. And that’s the real horror. I really enjoyed this.

Alright, let's talk about "Night and Day in Misery" by Catriona Ward. I went into this book with high expectations, having heard a lot of buzz about Ward's ability to craft truly unsettling atmospheres, and while it delivered on that front, I'm landing on a solid 3 stars, even though I'd really give it a 3.5.
Ward definitely knows how to build a sense of dread. The atmosphere in "Night and Day in Misery" is thick and heavy, and you can practically feel the oppressive isolation of the setting. The writing is evocative, painting a vivid and, at times, disturbing picture of the town and its inhabitants. The sense of unease permeates every page, which is exactly what I was hoping for.
The story itself is complex and layered, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Ward plays with timelines and perspectives in a way that's both intriguing and, at times, a little disorienting. I appreciated the ambition of the narrative, and there were moments where I was completely captivated.
However, and this is where the half-star comes into play, I found myself struggling to fully connect with the characters. While they were well-developed, they felt a bit distant, and I didn't feel as emotionally invested in their fates as I would have liked. Also, at times, the complexities of the plot felt a little convoluted, and I had to work a bit too hard to keep track of everything.
Ultimately, "Night and Day in Misery" is a dark and atmospheric read that will definitely appeal to fans of psychological thrillers. Ward's writing is undeniably powerful, and the book is undeniably unsettling. While it didn't quite reach the heights I was expecting, it's still a compelling and memorable read that I'd recommend with a slight caveat. Just be prepared for a slow burn and a story that requires your full attention.

A suspenseful quick read from Amazon’s new suspense/horror collection of short stories.

I really like what Catriona Ward does in her novels, and the plot and bones of this story probably would have made for a fine full length book. I’m not sure it worked as well in short story format, partly because the strength of Ward’s work is largely in detail and nuance, and partly because without a chance to get either properly scared or properly attached to the characters in such a brief story, this mostly just felt depressing.

It’s a sad premise no matter what, but it’s especially so in this format, where there isn’t enough time to get much beyond the grief and unfairness of what has happened to the protagonist. I wish the story had exacted some justice for her in the end, as it would have felt more satisfying that way.

This is certainly well-written and conceptually interesting, but not a great fit for short story format.