Publication date Oct 2020/ Publisher FlameTree Press
Synopsis
This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in the genre, and 4 of which have been selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a 2-week open submissions window. It is the first of what will hopefully become an annual, non-themed horror anthology of entirely original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer.
**********
Review
After Sundown was the perfect Halloween read. This fantastic collection of horror covers all bases for any fan. From classic hauntings to niche folklore and tales of all monsters from spider to sasquatch. Even mundane human fears such as dentistry and bad parenting turned to stomach curdling stories.
Butterfly Island.
Not so much a short story as an opening to an unfinished story. Whilst I’ve enjoyed C J Tudor’s novels, this piece didn’t really have much of an impact on me. But wait! From here on it gets far better.
Research
Tim Lebbon never let’s me down. I love this guy! Humans are the worst of all monsters, meet the neighbours from hell on this gobsmacking torture tale.
Swanskin
Beautiful and heart-wrenchingly cruel, the underlying social commentary makes this one a real heavy hitter.
That’s The Spirit
A wonderfully quirky tale of clairvoyance versus non believers. Worth noting- Sarah also writes weird horror as a twosome under S.L.Grey.
‘Gave’ felt long and draining (haha). The entire plot consists of an elderly man desperate to donate blood. Not such a fan, far too much statistics and equations, it felt more like a math class.
Wherever You Look
Someone else needs to read this one and explain it to me. Perhaps I was just brain tired but I feel like I missed the point Ramsey Campbell was making.
Same Time Next Year
I loved the atmosphere of this fleeting moment from a ghosts perspective.
Mine Seven
I always enjoy new folklore, in this case a siberian creature. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
A Hotel In Germany
Perhaps my favourite of After Sundown. Catriona Ward spins an entirely unique story of Cara, an enslaved vampire.
I shan’t cover them all as the discovery is as much fun as the atmosphere , but I HIGHLY recommend this anthology. Another incredible publication by Flame Tree Press!
Thankyou to Anne Cater at RandomThings for my copy.
See below for full content.
Roxanne’s Reactions:
Contents List:
BUTTERFLY ISLAND by C.J. Tudor
RESEARCH by Tim Lebbon
SWANSKIN by Alison Littlewood
THAT’S THE SPIRIT by Sarah Lotz
GAVE by Michael Bailey
WHEREVER YOU LOOK by Ramsey Campbell
SAME TIME NEXT YEAR by Angela Slatter
MINE SEVEN by Elana Gomel
IT DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT by Michael Marshall Smith
CREEPING IVY by Laura Purcell
LAST RITES FOR THE FOURTH WORLD by Rick Cross
WE ALL COME HOME by Simon Bestwick
THE IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HYGIENE by Robert Shearman
BOKEH by Thana Niveau
MURDER BOARD by Grady Hendrix
ALICE’S REBELLION by John Langan
THE MIRROR HOUSE by Jonathan Robbins Leon
THE NAUGHTY STEP by Stephen Volk
A HOTEL IN GERMANY by Catriona Ward
BRANCH LINE by Paul Finch
Share this:
An Average Life 
Thanks so much for the blog tour support xx
LikeLike