A trilogy of horror stories from the award-winning writer’s first collection of short stories – SOME WILL NOT SLEEP – and an introduction to the nightmarish visions and ghastly spectres that have been disturbing the sleep of readers for years. In this book you’ll find two ghost stories and a tale of ancestral demoniac horror.In the big white house on the hill angels are said to appear . . .When … . . .
When the children left the house, their toys remained . . .
A confused and vengeful presence occupies the home of a first-time buyer . . .
“The images just won’t go away. You’ll find yourself replaying scenes in your mind for days” – Fangoria
“Modern storytelling … and old school terror. Very scary, highly recommended” – Jonathan Maberry, NYT bestselling author
“One of the most subtle and powerful writers of dark fiction – a unique voice” – Michael Marshall Smith, NYT Bestselling author
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Three wonderfully horrible short horrors from Adam Nevill. Good ones.
Yup. Steve is admitting that this is his first time reading Nevill. In reality –I tried to read Before You Wake: Three Horrors (the companion ebook to this one) last year, and just didn’t enjoy the first story. Shamefully, I re-read that first story last night and loved it
Anyways –back to this one.
Like I said, I’ve not read Nevill, but that’s going to absolutely be changing. Since the first day that I connected with Gavin aka Mr. Kendall Reviews himself, he’s been harassing me to read Clive Barker and Adam Nevill. Finally, after hundreds of thousands of messages, I’ve committed. I have a number of Nevill’s works, and will be focusing on making my way through the books I have. I have watched ‘The Ritual’ movie, but I’m usually a bigger fan of the books than movies!
As for this short but brutal collection, Before You Sleep features three stories to get you engaged and involved in Nevill’s writing world, and boy do they ever.
We start off with the phenomenal ‘Where Angels Come In.’ This is a folklorish/urban legend story about a mysterious house. It’s the house that everyone dares each other to go in. It’s where those that do go in aren’t the same if they make it out.
This just drips with unnerving tension. I was riveted from start to finish and just ate this up. Outstanding.
The second story is ‘The Ancestors,’ and if you thought story one was going to be the high point of ‘haunted house’ stuff in this collection –you’d be wrong. This one flips the script from ‘Where Angels Come In,’ and we are introduced to a young family who has moved to this house to try and let some real-life stuff settle down. While here, the young girl makes friends with a mysterious figure, ‘Maho’ who lets her sleep in her hair at night. The toys that reside in the house come alive at night and as things unravel and discoveries are made, you understand just how deeply the house is connected to its unconventional residents.
The final story, ‘Florrie,’ is also a take on house haunting, but this one once again goes in a completely different direction. We follow a young male adult who has purchased a house and is excited to renovate it and make it his own. It doesn’t take long until he develops a connection with the house and as well with the former resident. Completely unsettling in the best way possible.
So, final verdict? Consider me a fan. Consider me completely at a loss about why it took me this long. I promise Mr. Nevill to not sit around and push his works aside anymore.
This is my pledge to the great horned one. May he accept my apologies and not spear me through the chest.
Rating: ½
Genre: Horror + Anthologies
This had three entertaining short stories. As the title suggests these horror stories are best read before you sleep. Or maybe not!
Where Angels Come In:
Three kids dare each other to get inside a haunted house. There is a history of past incidents where children have disappeared after going inside that house. This was a very atmospheric horror story. I liked it.
The Ancestors:
This is the story of a Japanese young girl. The family just moved to this house and at night time the toys come alive. The concept of this short tale was really interesting.
Florrie:
A young man just bought his first house. He builds a connection not just with his new purchase but also with the previous owner of the house.
Overall all three stories were quite entertaining, nightmarish, and extremely atmospheric. So if you are looking for some short frights, these would do for sure.
Definitely read before going to bed, just so the perfect mood can be achieved.