Midnight in the Graveyard is a large (perhaps too large) collection of short stories themed around ghosts, graveyards, revenge, and murder. Whilst there are a number of standouts (Devil's Dip, Russian Dollhouse, The Cemetery Man, Portrait to name a few) there's also a few which didn't connect with me, that said, there's a little something here for everyone who likes chills and thrills, and scares and cares all wrapped in a big bundle of diverse and creepy tales.
As I read the anthology I jotted down my thoughts on each story:
Table of contents:
Devils Dip by Shannon Felton - true horror, ghost who endlessly haunts those she's attached to. I thought it was great and a perfect way to start the anthology. 5/5
Tug 'O' War by Chard Lutzke - to be honest I can't recall too much about this, a re-read might be in order.
Euphemia Christine by Catherine Cavendish - hauntings are a theme here, only this one is a torrid little family drama where the blood of murders' past flows down to the present. was good. 4/5
Justin's Favorite by Jeremy Helper is another ghost story with a slight twist on those that came before it in this collection with the apparition haunting those who come close to the protagonist; naturally bad things happen. I liked the emotion attached to Justin's Favorite. 4/5
Holes in the Fabric by Todd Keisling takes a look at the bloody aftermath of mass suicide and amps up the horror with some paranormal elements. 3.5/5
Dog Days by Kenneth W. Cain used an interesting concept to deliver this tale of canine madness but it just felt a little flat to me. 2/5
Drown by Hunter Shea stays true to the early theme of this anthology in having ghosts at the forefront of the story. This one is a semi-ghost hunter story which has some nice moments. 3/5
Those Who Are Terrified by Elizabeth Massie is a fun ghost story which, while having some plot holes delivers a nice little tale of three inquisitive sisters who stumble upon a ghost in need of release in a basement. 2/5
Call for Cats by William Meikle features a murderess who pays the price for interfering in the afterlife. 3/5
Russian Dollhouse by Jason Parent is a standout of the collection. An inventive Halloween horror in which 4 kids visit a seemingly abandoned house - their lives (or deaths?) won't ever be the same. 5/5
Sawmill Road by Ronald Kelly feels like a classic 80's horror with plenty of gore and scares. Not for the squeamish.
Bettor's Edge by Tim Meyer - a ghost who lusts for death, more sinister than first appeared. Set in a hotel room and plays on the victims gambling addiction. Was a solid supernatural revenge story. 3.5/5
The Graveyard by Lee Mountford - spooky cliche graveyard story which manages to invoke a chill or two. 3/5
Join My Club by Somer Canon - imaginary friend or ghost? This one was a little lackluster. 1/5
The Cemetery Man by John Everson - graveyard fetish with a macabre twist. One of my favorites of the anthology. 5/5
New Blood, Old Skin by Glenn Rolfe - a writer reruns to his craft after an 18yr hiatus spurred on by a monster from his sons imagination. Much like Join My Club, this one didn't really hit the mark for me 2/5
The Glimmer Girls by Kenneth McKinley - wartime radiation sickness takes its toll on unassuming female workers at a watch factory. Who in turn, take their revenge on their sinister boss. Another revenge fueled ghost story where the dead conquer the living. 5/5
Haunted World by Robert McCammon has a surprising amount of depth for a shorty story; set in a strange world where ghosts walk the earth and are seen as little more than part of the furniture - until they're able to interact with the living...physically. Very cool build up with really heightens the tension. Would love to see a full length story of this concept. 5/5
Ghost Blood by Kelli Owen - a guy who sees blood all the time (old and new)? a slasher set in an isolated drive in? Sign me up! Ghost Blood is great. 5/5
Last Call at the Sudden Death Saloon by Allan Leverone - interesting, not so much about haunting as it is murder. A Haunted town and former insane asylum serves as provides a creepy backdrop. 3.5/5
The Ring of Truth by Thomas F. Monetleone - continuing with the strong ‘revenge of the ghost’ theme, this is another where the dead hunt and kill the living. 2.5/5
The Gravedigger's Story by Katheryn Meyer Griffith - didn’t connect with this one: a trio of ghosts return to murder their killer... only the killer is already dead. 2/5
The Putpocket by Alan M. Clark - couldn't get into this one. The build up was just too slow for a short story. 1/5
Swamp Vengeance by Brian Moreland - would fit perfectly in a crime / noir collection as well as this one. A husband scorned takes revenge on his wife only to end up untied in deadly matrimony. Set in the Everglades. 5/5
Portrait by Kealan Patrick Burke is a heartbreaking and emotional end to the collection which not only tugs at the heartstrings but chills to the core. A great short story to conclude the collection. 4/5
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