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Book Review: Out of Body: Stories by Chris Vanjonack

Cover art for Out of Body by Chris Vanojack

Out of Body by Chris Vanjonack

Harper Collins, September 2026

ISBN: 9780063471528

Available: Hardcover, ebook edition, audiobook

Buy:  Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

 

 

The ideas in Out of Body are exceptionally creative and original, but the style is not for everyone.  Readers more into experimental writing will probably love it, but those who prefer a more traditional narrative may be frustrated. I shall try to explain.

 

First of all, all the stories are written in the present tense, and one is written in second person, and for me, that is a big problem.  I know present tense writing is all the rage right now, due to the supposed immediacy of the style, but I just find it annoying, especially when it is done in second person.  I’m not totally against present tense, and some authors, such as Paul Tremblay and Ishmael Soledad, are able to get it to work, but it’s difficult enough to use effectively for full length novels, and even tougher for short stories. Writing present tense removes a lot of the power of narration, and that becomes more glaring in short stories, since the author has to focus mainly on the characters to tell the story.  That’s what kept me from really enjoying these tales: the  need for the voice of the unseen narrator to advance the story idea.

 

I also struggled with some stories’ lack of narrative structure. It seemed like some of the stories just didn’t go anywhere.  The idea was there, but there wasn’t really a beginning, middle and end: things just happened, and then they stopped, with nothing explained or resolved.  The story “What We Look Like Together” is a good example.  Fantastic idea: a stranger inserts himself into a woman’s photo booth photo, and from there on out, he somehow shows up in every photo of her, doing different things.  Very intriguing!  It kept happening, and happening… then the story just ended.  No explanation, nothing resolved or even hinted at.  That was disappointing.  The story “Open Spaces” had a similar feel.  A couple decides to have sex in any national park rumored to be haunted, and starts running into ghosts.  Again, a creative idea, but it just kind of ended with a fizzle.  Not all stories need to have things explained at the end, but a bit more structure would have made these more enjoyable.

 

For all that, I really do think this book will find an audience with those who are likely to be more open to this style of writing.  As noted, the ideas were excellent.  There were ghosts having group meetings to deal with their ghostly state, a kid who can somehow invent the most incredible things, some killer clowns in the woods that seem to be an nationwide hazard…the list goes on.  All original, just not written in a way that I can enjoy reading.  They are some of the best short story ideas I have come across in a while.

 

Bottom line: this will probably be good for readers who enjoy authors who take chances with how they set a tale down, and enjoy present tense writing.  For the people who prefer more traditional, straightforward narratives, this will likely be one to skip.

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

Posted on October 18, 2026 by , Reply

Book Review: Hall-Lore-Ween: Thrice the Fright by Josh Spero, illustrations by TT Hernandez

cover art for Hall-Lore-Ween: Thrice the Fright by Josh Spero

Hall-Lore-Ween: Thrice the Fright, by Josh Spero, illustrations by TT Hernandez

Castle Bridge Media, October 2026

ISBN: 9798994041062

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy: Bookshop.org |  Amazon.com

 

 

In what’s become a happy Halloween tradition, author Josh Spero returns with his third collection of spooky tales, poems, and illustrations, just in time for Halloween. It’s good, clean Halloween fun for younger readers.

 

As always, the stories are introduced by Jacko, the creepy looking, pumpkin-headed mascot of the series. There are three stories, ranging in length from 40 to 80 pages. The theme is still spooky good, Halloween fun that tends to have somewhat happy endings. Keep in mind, this is oriented to younger readers, so the cheerful finishes (well, relatively cheerful) are good for the intended audience.

 

The first story, “The Collector”, deals with a spate of missing kids in a small town, and the Halloween angle is, goblins of some sort keep showing up. It’s a fun tale, and thankfully, never veers into the ugly side of abduction, a la The Black Phone. This is written for kids, so there is some magic and monsters involved with the disappearances. This one was a good tale.

 

“What Answers Back” didn’t work as well for me. This is a story of a young schoolgirl being picked to join an actual witches’ coven. I think I may just have seen that plot one too many times, and am worn out on it, but other readers will probably like it. The last story, “Three Lantern Pumpkins Farm”, is the best of the bunch, as it contains a good dose of that Halloween ‘”magic” that the series sprinkles throughout its spook-themed, but also very uplifting, stories. This one has a very thoughtful ending that leaves you feeling happy all over.

 

The author did very well with the “cemetery ghost jamboree” in the previous volume of the series, and he does it again with the “Pumpkin Farm” story. This is a story of two kids who go to a fantastical Halloween-themed farm festival every year with their uncle. The fair keeps getting bigger and better, and the ghostly angle works into the story towards the end. It’s a great ending, and the author does a good job keeping the surprise under wraps until the last few pages. This story alone is enough to justify the price of the book.

 

One happy addition to the series: more illustrations! I know I groused about the fact that the last two books usually only had one illustration per story, this time there are two to three per story. Hooray!

 

Bottom line is, it’s as much fun as the last two books. Please keep the tradition going, I’ve grown to look forward to it each year. Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

 

 

Posted on October 10, 2026 by , Reply

Book Review: Whispers in the Dark: Real-life Ghost Encounters and Indian Folklore by Sourav Rana

cover art for Whispers in the Dark by Sourav Rana

Whispers in the Dark: Real-life Ghost Encounters and Indian Folklore, by Sourav Rana

Independently published, 2026

ISBN: 979-8194194773

Available:Illustrated paperback, Kindle edition

Buy: Amazon.com

 

 

People that appear to be alive suddenly disappear; strange screams shatter the quiet; spirits wrestle with and attack their victims; dead men march in lines; and shapeshifters wreak havoc. This might sound like what to expect in the latest horror novel, but they are actually part of Sourav Rana’s creative nonfiction ebook.

 

In this spooky collection, Rana describes actual encounters with ghosts and demons in India. The stories focus on lonely rural locations that become terrifying after dark. The threat of danger or actual danger is real, and although some of the stories describe similar experiences, Rana’s brief descriptions of the victims, their situations in life, and the particulars of their environment provide background that supports the authenticity of each story.

 

In addition to the details the victims are able to provide, Rana includes interesting context. We learn about the characteristics of the rural Indian landscape, the variety of occupations there, and the superstitions and religious beliefs of the villagers. We also gain insights on the culture’s folklore.

 

Each story is very brief, usually not more than a page or two, and gets straight to the surprising events while still building some suspense and providing a compact storyline. The end of this chapbook also lists descriptive, informative definitions of Jin, The Ghost Procession, Human Spirits, Raakshas, and Betaal. According to the people in the book, it is not totally unexpected that these entities could show up in everyday life, but they were still shocking to experience.

 

It seems possible that a full-length book could be developed from this version by adding stories, expanding the types of encounters, and perhaps by grouping them and adding more specific information about Indian mythology and Hinduism, with more detailed explanations. It would also be fascinating to find out how prevalent these stories are, if they tend to be connected only to specific parts of India, and if there has been any scientific evidence collected on these occurrences.

 

One thing is for certain, lives are changed when these ordinary people come face to face with what most people have only read about in mythology. They quickly decide not to be out and about after dark following these incidents, they learn that there are sacred boundaries that protect human beings from actual contact with the undead, and their mysterious adventures give credence to ancient beliefs about the thin line between the human and the supernatural.

 

 

Reviewed by Nova Hadley

Posted on October 10, 2026 by , Reply
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