Haunted objects. Haunted places. Haunted people.Creatures otherworldly and places where looming shadows carry dread to your door.“If you’re a fan of literary horror, Cold Comforts ranks up there with the best of the genre. Halbert’s vivid descriptions, superbly defined characters, and imaginative plotting contribute to one of the best single-author collections I’ve read in years. It’s that good.” … read in years. It’s that good.” – Tony Tremblay, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of The Moore House
A school bus stops at the home of an isolated family whose unusual children have a unique way to scare off their enemies
A vacationing couple discovers something deeper than their love resides within wine country
Objects in the attic of an old farmhouse come to life seeking retribution
A peculiar girl discovers she has a strange ability
These thirteen tales will take you from the farms and woods of the heartland, to prison and the south of France. Whether you’re crunching through the snow wondering what’s moving behind you, or sitting by a campfire listening to a tale of revenge, pull a blanket tight around your shoulders and be prepared for an impending chill to race down your spine.
All you’ll find are cold comforts here.
Stories included in this collection:
When Betsy Whispers
Papa’s Wrench and the Wind Chime
Like Riding a Bicycle
Luxor Decanted
Housing the Hollygobs
The Fourth Movement
’Neath Fallow Ground
Adverse Possession
The Fire Tower
Conjuring the Corpse Candles
Hey, Karen
A Used Infinity
A Bone to Pick
“If you’re a fan of literary horror, Cold Comforts ranks up there with the best of the genre. Halbert’s vivid descriptions, superbly defined characters, and imaginative plotting contribute to one of the best single-author collections I’ve read in years. It’s that good.” – Tony Tremblay, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of The Moore House
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I recently posted on Twitter and Facebook about an update on my site’s review requests sections and reminded folks to reach out if they needed a review. The response was fantastic – and the amazing Marianne was the first one to email me!
I’d not read any of her work, so this was a double bonus!
What I liked: ‘Cold Comforts‘ is a collection of thirteen dark stories. In her biography, Halbert describes her writing as “slow burn horror” and I gotta say that is spot on. From the haunting ‘Bone to Pick‘ to the brilliant ‘Hey, Karen‘ every story had its intensity ramp up from zero to ten over the course of the pages.
I have to give special mention to the opener ‘When Betsy Whispers.’ This was one of the single best short stories I’ve ever read. It was hypnotic in its beauty, but soooo bleak at its core.
What I didn’t like: I always sound like a broken record here with collections, but a few stories missed the mark with me. Saying that, the ones I didn’t connect with, may well be the stories another reader enjoys the most!
Why you should buy it: As I said, if slow-burn horror and thrillers are your jam, Halbert is a master. Otherwise, grab this purely to discover Betsy. That story will stay with me forever.
Marianne Halbert’s Cold Comforts is a haunting collection of thirteen short tales. The stories are quite varied; there’s a conscious tree, an old killer folk legend, a haunted workplace and more. These tales range from sort of quirky to hauntingly disturbing. Most of the stories are pretty short, so if you aren’t feeling one, it won’t be long before Halbert changes gears completely. Perhaps the most notable aspect of Halbert’s writing is her ability to completely submerge you in the little worlds she’s created. Despite the fact that most of these stories are less than 10 pages, Halbert’s scenes truly come to life.
Of the thirteen tales in Cold Comforts, I loved 6 of them, liked 6 of them and only one story just wasn’t for me.
-My Top Three-
When Betsy Whispers- This is a hauntingly beautiful tale about a tree. Yea, you read that right. The entire story is told from the perspective of a tree. I was skeptical at first, but this ended up being one of the most eloquent and striking stories I’ve found in a horror collection. Halbert made a great choice using this as the opening story; it really pulled me in and kept me reading.
A Bone to Pick- After suffering an injury, young Molene Meuller discovers she has an uncanny new ability. I won’t say much more, but the unique ideas and excellent execution made this a definite favorite.
A Used Infinity- A middle-aged man buys a used car, hoping it will help him turn a new leaf. When the GPS starts misbehaving, he ends up going for the ride of his life. I really enjoyed this story, though it was definitely a little on the stranger side.
-Other Stories I Loved-
Housing the Hollygobs- Two young kids visiting the country discover that there might be more to an old country folktale.
‘Neath Fallow Ground- When a young man returns to his home town after years away, he discovers a dark secret.
Adverse Possession- A man purchased some property that comes with some strange and deadly conditions.
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Cold Comforts is a quick but engrossing read. The stories have great range, and there is sure to be something for every reader. Some are light and surreal, while others are gritty and dark; but nothing too extreme. Halbert’s ability to transport the reader into her worlds in such short stories truly keeps you turning the pages. If you’re looking for a diverse collection of unique, creative stories, give Cold Comforts a shot.