CREEPSHOW
Edited by James Aquilone
Monstrous Books (June 18, 2026)
Reviewed by Carson Buckingham
CREEPSHOW is James Aquilone’s latest anthology, and this one is reminiscent of the old 1982 movie of the same name. He is a premier anthologist, and with an all-star Table of Contents, this book doesn’t disappoint and follows the spirit of the movie admirably.
Here’s what you get:
“With All the Boards Nailed Just Right” by Jonathan Maberry. Even if you’re burned out on zombie stories, there’s a great twist at the end that I didn’t see coming at all. Beautifully done.
“The Hide” by Simon Bestwick. A trio of hunters tracks and kills an unusual quarry.
“Five is the Best Number” by Gwendolyn Kiste. Beautifully written story of revenge.
“Dead Line” by Dennis Crosby. Once you are on this train, it can take a long, long time to get off. Nice twist at the end.
“Tiny House (of Terror)” by James Aquilone. A broken couple buys one of those tiny houses that are all the rage these days, in hopes that living closer together will actually make them a closer couple. He loves it; she, not so much. But he finds something in the garden that will ensure they will always fit in that house.
“When the Mask Falls” by Tim Waggoner. A story about what happens when someone combines blind ambition, no talent, and an unwillingness to follow directions.
“The Great Makeover” by Lisa Morton. The whole world changes—from junk food! Believe it or not, as funny as that premise sounds, this is one frightening story!
“Instant Karma” by Keith R. A. DeCondido. Two karate schools are at odds, “but those who choose to fight have lost before they have begun”—in spades.
“Longings From a Dusty Shelf” by Thomas E. Sniegoski. A man wants to murder his wife with the aid of a supernatural being. Nice twist at the end.
“If You’re Flapping and You Know It” – by Nick Roberts. Grotesque story about man vs. bats.
“The Predator’s Heart” by David Avallone. A study of predator and prey during World War II.
“Companion Piece” by Nancy A. Collins. Interesting story about hoodoo and the price paid for using it.
“Blood and Tinsel” by Steve Niles. A Christmas murder recalled. This reader is kind of sick of Christmas murders, and there was nothing particularly new under the sun here, and overall, it was an unfortunate way to end the anthology. Usually, anthologists begin and end with the strongest stories, and “Blood and Tinsel” was just too weak to pull off the required exemplary ending to this top-notch anthology.
That being said, there was a three-way tie for my favorite story in the book: Jonathan Maberry’s “With All the Boards Nailed Just Right,” Lisa Morton’s “The Great Makeover,” and Tim Waggoner’s “When the Mask Falls.”
Christmas is coming fast, and this would be a fabulous book to give as a gift. Superb writing at a low price, so you can buy one for yourself and one for that horror fan you’ve been struggling to come up with a gift for.
James Aquilone has hit it out of the park once again. Bravo.
5 out of 5 stars
