Tales From The Parkland: A Collection of Short Horror and Supernatural Stories (Stories for Late at Night)

TALES FROM THE PARKLAND is a collection of 11 short stories and a bonus novella - all of which have the capacity to open up a whole new realm of nightmares. The tagline on the front cover touts "Stories for late at night" - don't do it, friends. As author Ronald McGillvary explores terrifying "What If" scenarios, readers get a front row seat of the horrors of his vivid imagination.

Now I say all that to prepare you. If you're a horror fiend like me, you thrive on the fear, the constant skin crawling moments, things that you never thought of as anything more than harmless now made into nightmares....just....you know, read these while the sun is shining and several HOURS before bedtime. LOL In addition to the thrills and chills, I was pleasantly surprised at a heartwarming moment here, tears at the relationship of certain characters there and even laughter from surprising moments of joy.

This is a fantastic collection and I know that I'll be coming back to these stories again and again. They're just too good not to. If you're interested in a brief non spoiler synopsis for each of the stories and novella, I'll list that below for you or you can pick this one up and go in completely blind, which is what I'd recommend.

THE GARBAGE COLLECTORS - I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again - when authors take every day things and shine a dark light on them, twist the angle - it really makes my skin crawl.

Stephen and his family are new in town. The neighbors are a bit odd-acting, Stephen has strange dreams, but when the kids come home from school with an alarming tale about the town’s garbage collectors, they decide it’s time to take a trip out of town.

*The intro to Hotel California starts playing*

UBIQUITY - After I read this story, I realize that the title itself was a massive clue to how creepy this one was going to be.

This is a story about a fellow named James who has boated in from his little island to the mainland to restock his supplies. In the weeks since his last visit, the mainland folk have undergone a bit of an extreme makeover. James is NOT a fan. (Neither am I)

This is one of those stories that visual readers will be able to see very clearly in their mind’s eye as it plays out. Where it got fun for me was when I was trying to determine if it was real, was James having a nightmare or something else entirely. Then there are the usual questions: how, when, what and why?

BOGEYMAN - Even the Bogeyman deserves a happy ending every once in a while, right?

This is a fearsomely delightful story about the reunion between Chris and his childhood Under-The-Bed-Bogeyman. (Not to be confused with the In-The-Closet-Bogeyman or In-The-Basement-Bogeyman)

Their reunion couldn’t have come at a better time - Chris has an opportunity to restore the Bogeyman to his former power and glory and there’s enough work to employ a few other out-of-work panhandling Bogeys as well.

BIG BOY - Peter is 9 years old and has a day off from school. He feels he’s old enough to stay home and care for himself, but his mom sends him to daycare. Not only does Peter not understand why he can’t stay home by himself, his mom doesn’t work - he can’t work out why he’s at daycare with all the younger kids.

Three explosions go off. The news show folks killing each other - Peter finds himself on his own like he had wanted to be all day - can he get himself to safety??

SQUEALER - Fifteen year old Carl is in process of sneaking out when his annoying little sister, Cheryl wakes up and demands to go or she’ll tell their mother.

Neighborhood pets have been disappearing and the rumor is old man Wilkerson is behind it and performing animal sacrifices.

Let’s just say the reality of what’s going on is going to have your eyebrows disappearing into your hairline!

UNDERNEATH THE STAIRS - I’ve jokingly said here and there that kids are evil. This story proves my point there, but you kind of have to respect the hustle in this case.