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A review by badseedgirl
Bah! Humbug! An Anthology of Christmas Horror Stories by David Owain Hughes, Wrath James White, Matt Shaw, Duncan P. Bradshaw, Duncan Ralston, Jaime Johnesee, Sam West, Lisa Lane, Jim Goforth, Gary McMahon, Kealan Patrick Burke, Michael Bray
4.0
This anthology had 26 stories by both established and new authors. I put * by the stories I thought were the standouts of the book
*Cecil & Bubb Meet Santa – Terry M. West: A funny, dark poem.
In the Bleak Midwinter – Daniel Mark Chant: A brother and sister have a dark Hansel and Gretel adventure. Kids don’t go into holes in tree trunks!
Dreaming of a Black Christmas – Mark West: The ending was very obvious.
*Christmas Cracker – Kit Power: One of the best stories in the collection, so many questions are left at the end.
The Last Cabbage Patch Doll – Wrath James White: My Mom, God bless her, did Battle for my first Cabbage Patch Kid. I still love Rachel!
Windigo - Wrath James White: Not quite as good.
Little Shits - David Owain Huges: NO!
*Sadie – Lisa Lane: I wanted to say this was a sweet story, but it is just too creepy to be sweet.
*Doomsday Father Christmas (A Tragedy in one Act) – Kealan Patrick Burke: This story just made me cry, and not pretty cry either.
Nothing Was Stirring – Billie Sue Mosiman: A Gothic plague story
Neighborly – Jamie Johnesee: Steve did break into the house
Christmas Wrath – J.R. Park: Don’t teach your little siblings behaviors you will regret later.
Chompers – Duncan Ralston: I was reminded of a Simpson’s Treehouse of Terror episode.
Loving Angels – Gary McMahon: This felt like a tragic story, not so much horror.
With These Hands – Michael Bray: When people die unexpectedly there will always be unanswered questions.
Last Minute – Duncan P. Bradshaw: This is what happens when you do not plan ahead.
*Happiness U.S.A. – Thomas S. Flowers: This story was based on a Twilight Zone Episode “Mr. Garrity and the Graves” which was a comedic episode, this story is not!
Away in the Mangler – Mark Cassell: People desperate for a job……
Ghosts of Christmas Past – Jack Rollins: I really liked the mystery aspect of this story. Getting dementia sucks if you are really trying to hide something.
*Keep Me – Mason Sabre: This story was so sad. He could have moved the tree.
Satan’s Little Helper – Matt Hickman: People seem to forget that Satan is the king of lies.
*Mental Elf – Jim Goforth: This is definitely one of the best stories in the book.
Yule Regret It – Charlotte Bond: That wife got what she deserved.
At Christmas, All Roads Lead Home – Sam West: Even escaped lunatics love Christmas.
The Boy Who Never Died – Andrew Freudenberg: This story reminded me of Clive Barker.
The Night Before Christmas – Matt Shaw: A quick little Christmas tale.
*Cecil & Bubb Meet Santa – Terry M. West: A funny, dark poem.
In the Bleak Midwinter – Daniel Mark Chant: A brother and sister have a dark Hansel and Gretel adventure. Kids don’t go into holes in tree trunks!
Dreaming of a Black Christmas – Mark West: The ending was very obvious.
*Christmas Cracker – Kit Power: One of the best stories in the collection, so many questions are left at the end.
The Last Cabbage Patch Doll – Wrath James White: My Mom, God bless her, did Battle for my first Cabbage Patch Kid. I still love Rachel!
Windigo - Wrath James White: Not quite as good.
Little Shits - David Owain Huges: NO!
*Sadie – Lisa Lane: I wanted to say this was a sweet story, but it is just too creepy to be sweet.
*Doomsday Father Christmas (A Tragedy in one Act) – Kealan Patrick Burke: This story just made me cry, and not pretty cry either.
Nothing Was Stirring – Billie Sue Mosiman: A Gothic plague story
Neighborly – Jamie Johnesee: Steve did break into the house
Christmas Wrath – J.R. Park: Don’t teach your little siblings behaviors you will regret later.
Chompers – Duncan Ralston: I was reminded of a Simpson’s Treehouse of Terror episode.
Loving Angels – Gary McMahon: This felt like a tragic story, not so much horror.
With These Hands – Michael Bray: When people die unexpectedly there will always be unanswered questions.
Last Minute – Duncan P. Bradshaw: This is what happens when you do not plan ahead.
*Happiness U.S.A. – Thomas S. Flowers: This story was based on a Twilight Zone Episode “Mr. Garrity and the Graves” which was a comedic episode, this story is not!
Away in the Mangler – Mark Cassell: People desperate for a job……
Ghosts of Christmas Past – Jack Rollins: I really liked the mystery aspect of this story. Getting dementia sucks if you are really trying to hide something.
*Keep Me – Mason Sabre: This story was so sad. He could have moved the tree.
Satan’s Little Helper – Matt Hickman: People seem to forget that Satan is the king of lies.
*Mental Elf – Jim Goforth: This is definitely one of the best stories in the book.
Yule Regret It – Charlotte Bond: That wife got what she deserved.
At Christmas, All Roads Lead Home – Sam West: Even escaped lunatics love Christmas.
The Boy Who Never Died – Andrew Freudenberg: This story reminded me of Clive Barker.
The Night Before Christmas – Matt Shaw: A quick little Christmas tale.