Who doesn’t love a good Boogeyman story? Well, I have a creepy little novella to share that will make you want to check your closet before bed!
Read on for my review of Reaper by Jonathan Pongratz, and a chance to win a signed copy of your own!
Reaper: A Horror Novella
Publication Date: April 19th, 2019
Genre: YA Horror/ Novella
THE BOOGEYMAN IS REAL
Gregory and his little sister Imogen love spending Halloween with their parents. But this year is different. If he proves he can take care of Imogen all by himself, he’ll finally have the allowance he’s dreamed of.
That was before the basement door opened on its own. Before the strange door appeared in the basement and Imogen was taken from him by the monster.
Now everyone in town is blaming him for her disappearance, but no one is listening to his story. Where did the door come from? What was that creature? And most of all, can he find his sister before it’s too late, or will he bury his memories of her along with his parents?
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Excerpt
Call me a scaredy cat all you want, but there was always something about the basement that I didn’t like. It always made me feel like I was being watched, like there was some
thing in the shadows just waiting for me to make a wrong move. Even now, the frigid air crept over me, creating more goosebumps on my arms and legs. I quickened my strides up the stairs, Imogen dragging behind.
We were halfway up the stairs when the knocks stopped. For a moment, I stopped my climb. The house was eerily quiet, and for reasons I can’t explain I felt a sudden urge to hurry back upstairs. I charged forward, trying to pull Immy along with me, but she resisted.
“Too fast!” she whined.
“If you hurry, we can play dress up sooner, now come on!” I yanked on Immy’s arm, practically lifting her into the air. Seven steps. Just seven more steps and we could look back on this night and laugh it off. Seven, six, five. Almost there.
I was just three steps away from the door when I leaped for the landing. I’ll never forget that jump. Time seemed to stand still, as if those cold icy fingers in the air had somehow found a way to slow time down. I remember that I had a smile on my face, a smile that disappeared when the door slammed shut in my face.
Review
This is a quick little read, meant to get you heart pounding, and your flesh crawling.
The town has a dirty little secret and Gregory uncovers it while babysitting his little sister, and once learned, can never be buried again. In fact, Gregory’s life is changed forever and no one, not even his parents will help him.
Halloween night, Gregory confidently settles in for an evening of babysitting Imogen, hoping to prove to his parents that he is ready for an allowance. Everything starts well enough, but shortly after his parents leave, a game of hide and seek goes horribly wrong. His sister is snatched in front of his eyes by something he could never have imagined, even in his worst nightmares. Once his parents return home and learn their daughter is missing, a cursory search is conducted with no results. Instead of being heartbroken, his parents return to their normal every day life as if their daughter never existed.
As if that isn’t strange enough, Gregory learns that many children have mysteriously disappeared from his town over the years, and nobody seems to know why. Gregory sets out to unravel this mystery, and hopefully find his sister before it’s too late.
I enjoyed this story for the most part. It was a bit predictable, but it’s well-written and entertaining, a good “Boogie Man” tale. I would recommend Reaper to readers who are looking for a quick but satisfying horror.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Giveaway!!!
For your chance to win a signed copy of Reaper (North America), or a digital copy (International), click on the link below!
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About the Author
Jonathan Pongratz is a writer and author of captivating horror, urban fantasy, and paranormal stories. When he’s not writing, he’s busy being a bookworm, video game junkie, and karaoke vocalist. A former resident of Dallas, he currently resides in Kansas City with his halloween cat Ajax. By day he works magic in finance, by night he creates dark and mesmerizing worlds.
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