Creep: 21 Tales of Terror (Nights of Madness Book 2) by Kevin Bachar
Creep: 21 Tales of Terror (Nights of Madness Book 2) by Kevin Bachar is a collection of short horror stories. It weighs in at 207 pages and was published by Black Widow Press on January 31, 2024.
Much like Bachar’s first collection I read, Dread: 22 Tales of Terror (Nights of Madness Book 1), the cover of Creep immediately caught my eye. There’s a definite spooky, haunting factor, which is a great introduction to the stories.
I like what Bachar does at the beginning of each story. At the top of each tale, he has a small tidbit of information. I loved reading that little hint to the story and then going back to reread it once I finished the story. They’re cryptic yet give a feeling of well-rounded satisfaction to the reader. I looked forward to it each time. He also did this with Dread, and I’m so glad he continued.
Whereas Dread focused on the darker side of nature and interweaving the natural world with the supernatural, Creep focuses more on what horrors and terrors are lurking around us in our everyday lives. It shows us what happens when we let our guards down, when horror creeps into our mundane routines. No one is safe.
These stories are definitely creepy, as the title suggests. I found myself thinking about them while doing ordinary things in my daily life, causing my mind to run down a list of “what if” scenarios.
I’m a fan of Bachar’s writing style. The conversational aspect of it keeps me engaged the entire time. I’m already excited about reading Cursed, the third book in this series, when it comes out in April. Bachar has a way of getting under your skin and making each story seem like it could happen. With his life experiences and career in nature documentaries, it’s no wonder he knows how to pen a story that will stick with you and play out in your head.
One of the best parts of any horror collection is how it makes you feel inside and what it makes you think about in your own life. There were moments while I read Creep when I felt claustrophobic. There were moments I felt panicked. There were moments I felt smug and relieved. These stories run the gamut. Bachar turns the mundane on its head and gives readers a peek into a world where everyday morphs into eerie.
I’d like to share five of the stories that haunted me after I read them - in a good way. They’re listed in order of appearance in the book. I’m including spoiler free portions of my notes written immediately after reading them.
My Top 5 Stories in Creep:
“Pipes”
This is the first story, and it enticed me to keep reading! It got my heart beating! As a person who was freaked out by the Psycho shower scene growing up, Bachar reminded me that I shouldn’t let my guard down. You never know what’s lurking in even the safest places.
“Brookhaven"
Suspenseful, terrifying. It’s a great story about humans, science, hubris, and the unknown. I felt this one in my teeth. A nightmare.
“With Silver Bells”
One of my favorite kinds of stories - a comeuppance tale! There’s a simmering of revenge just below the surface for the main character. I love how it blurs the lines of morality. What would you do?
“Gordon Lightfoot”
This one is unsettling! One of my nightmare scenarios. The dangers of someone’s psyche affecting your reality. Off-kilter character. Creepy!
“The Package”
Another fun one that plays on morality, even if it’s too late. I loved following this story to its end. I could feel the desperation and horror of the main character. Dire tale of consequences.
Need more Kevin Bachar?
Get to know Kevin Bachar:
Kevin Bachar is an EMMY winning documentary director and WGA screenwriter. The horror film he wrote - The Inhabitant - was released through Lionsgate and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu and Apple+. The film – El Monstruo – from his screenplay, is in pre-production with MarVista and Marginal MediaWorks.
His documentary experience gives his writing an authenticity that can only come from being on the front lines of war zones or on ride-alongs with cops. Kevin’s also one of the premier natural history filmmakers in the world. If you watch Shark Week, National Geographic or PBS you’ve seen his work. He’s the idiot in the water with sharks, or crawling in caves filming vampire bats.
Kevin is also a member of the Horror Writer's Association.
***Taken from Kevin Bachar’s website
