Something strange is going on in St. Clair, Georgia. People aren’t acting right. One man escapes with his family and hides out in the hills, but will they be able to find safety there?
In this book by Stephen Helmes, there are four stories. Three are tales of horror, and the other one is a touching story that made me cry.
“Glasswalker” – In this tale of subtle horror, Krista unintentionally ends up on her boss’s bad side. This makes her determined to prove that she can do the job and not take the easy way out. Her determination and a lonely highway take her somewhere not listed in her itinerary.
“Little Red Socks” – This one is not a tale of horror. I felt so bad for Maria, the main character. She has a jerk of a husband, a hard job where she is underappreciated, and a mouse loose in her house that she just can’t catch. One day a co-worker gives her a very special pair of red socks and her life changes. This sweet touching story almost made me cry.
“The Witches’ Post” – A young boy, scared by tricks his older brother played on him when he was young, grows up to write a column for the town’s paper. Shy and awkward around women, he believes it is his destiny that none will ever find him attractive. The night one does, they go for a terrifying stroll in the park, one that neither will ever forget.
“Indwellers” – In this horror story, something strange is going on in St. Clair, Georgia. People aren’t acting right. One man escapes with his family and hides out in the hills, but will they be able to find safety there?
This last story has an interesting new twist added to an old theme. I won’t say any more about it except that the author did a great job at keeping me from seeing what was really going on until very close to the end of the story. This one has the potential to be made into a full-length book. I believe that “Indwellers” would have to be my favorite story out of the bunch.
The four stories in this collection are definitely worth reading. There are no holes in the plots. Each story progresses logically from beginning to end, and they don’t contain any boring parts you will be tempted to skim or skip. The characters are believable and the situations they find themselves are sure to keep your attention. The author is great at not giving anything away too soon. That way each story has a way of surprising you as to what happens.
The stories need a bit more editing, but they are so good that the few errors they contained in no way stopped my enjoyment of them.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you would like a copy to read for yourself, I have provided an Amazon link below.
Amazon Link: Nightly Visits
Recommended Articles:
Stephen Helmes Interview – Being a Milkman, a Musician, and a Writer
House of Flies and Writing – Guest Post by Stephen Helmes
Favorite Sentences:
It’s funny how someone can know the consequences for something they are doing, but not pay attention until it’s too late.
The truck’s partially open hood made her think of a dead possum lying curled on its side in the road, eyes closed and blood dripping from its open mouth.
The pumpkin looked alive and the flicker of the candle on this dark, eerie night gave off the effect that it was really looking at him.
Have you ever wondered what a human heart tastes like? I can tell you because mine shot straight up into my throat when I realized what I’d done.
About the Author:
Stephen Helmes was born in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He has always dreamed of living in Florida close to the beach. That dream came true when earlier this year, he was able to move to Palmetto, Florida.
He started writing in 2001 but had no plans to go professional. It started with a nightmare that woke him in a cold sweat. He realized that if he went back to sleep the dream would be forgotten. So he got up and started writing it down while the images were still vivid in his mind. It didn’t take long to realize that he enjoyed this style of writing, and things grew from there.
Stephen is a musician as well. He is one of the founding members of the rock band House of Flies. They are known for playing venues in areas from Atlanta, Georgia up to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
