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Suburban Monsters Kindle Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 207 ratings

“An assortment of jolts, abominations, and shaken nerves that readers won’t soon forget.”

Kirkus Reviews


The house at the end of the block with the overgrown lawn. The darkened store window in a forgotten corner of the shopping mall. The colorful characters of a children's TV show. What dark secrets do they hide?

From award-winning author Christopher Hawkins come thirteen tales of the horrors lurking right next door.

  • A shut-in sets out to make a new life for himself by losing weight at the point of a scalpel.
  • A store clerk with a mannequin obsession hides a macabre and tragic secret.
  • A master thief tries for one last score in a house that doesn't want him to leave.
  • Two friends learn the hard way that having superpowers doesn't always make you a hero. It might just make you a monster.
  • A lonely painter finds freedom with the help of something lurking beneath the ocean waves.


At turns whimsical and somber but always unsettling, this debut collection of short horror stories is essential reading from a rising voice in dark literary fiction.

“A masterfully written collection of dark and uniquely disquieting tales. Some tales collected here are bizarre and whimsical. Others are distressing and uncomfortable. Regardless, each tale is brilliantly tethered by an absolute truth: there is darkness lurking inside each person you pass on the street. Peel back the gristle and behold the exquisite void waiting for you beneath the skin…”

Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes

“Each of the stories in SUBURBAN MONSTERS is a masterful exercise in building tension and creating a sense of unease, as author Christopher Hawkins delves into the dark, twisted inner lives of characters who may not be all they seem.”

IndieReader (Starred Review)

“Human fiends and supernatural ones collide in Hawkins’ Suburban Monsters. Shows us that beneath any facade of normalcy, strange things lurk, just waiting to sink their teeth in. Christopher Hawkins loves turning over rocks and showing us the grotesque, squirming things underneath, and you’ll have a hard time looking away.”

Brian Asman, author of Man, F*ck This House

“Hawkins’s bold premises and deft followthrough create gut-wrenching tension sure to thrill horror enthusiasts... Throughout, visceral imagery brings the terror to life: readers will hear the “wet gurgle” and see the “blossom of brownish red” liquid spreading out. Killer opening lines such as “It was the blood that changed everything” make the twisted and ominous worlds inviting.”

Booklife

“Harrowing and irresistible. A terrific collection of short stories that unmasks the horror lurking in everyday humanity. You’ll never look at your neighbors in the same way again.”

Brian Pinkerton, author of The Nirvana Effect

“These are more than horror stories; these are little word grenades that roll quietly into the closet of your mind… only to explode later! I may never forget the last lines of “A Candle For The Birthday Boy,” perhaps the perfect closer to this incendiary collection. Read at your own risk.”

John Everson, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Five Deaths for Seven Songbirds and NightWhere

“Reading Christopher Hawkins’ Suburban Monsters is like walking down a street in a dark neighborhood at night with the windows lit and curtains, some of them, parted. Terrible things go on inside, but out here you’re safe, except then there’s a soft sound behind you, and then another. The faces in all those windows turn, and you are seen.”

Christi Nogle, author of Beulah

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A masterfully written collection of dark and uniquely disquieting tales. Some tales collected here are bizarre and whimsical. Others are distressing and uncomfortable. Regardless, each tale is brilliantly tethered by an absolute truth: there is darkness lurking inside each person you pass on the street. Peel back the gristle and behold the exquisite void waiting for you beneath the skin..."

Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes


"An assortment of jolts, abominations, and shaken nerves that readers won't soon forget."

Kirkus Reviews

"Each of the stories in SUBURBAN MONSTERS is a masterful exercise in building tension and creating a sense of unease, as author Christopher Hawkins delves into the dark, twisted inner lives of characters who may not be all they seem."

IndieReader (Starred Review)


"Human fiends and supernatural ones collide in Hawkins' Suburban Monsters. Shows us that beneath any facade of normalcy, strange things lurk, just waiting to sink their teeth in. Christopher Hawkins loves turning over rocks and showing us the grotesque, squirming things underneath, and you'll have a hard time looking away."

Brian Asman, author of Man, Fuck This House


"Reading Christopher Hawkins' Suburban Monsters is like walking down a street in a dark neighborhood at night with the windows lit and curtains, some of them, parted. Terrible things go on inside, but out here you're safe, except then there's a soft sound behind you, and then another. The faces in all those windows turn, and you are seen."

Christi Nogle, author of Beulah


"Harrowing and irresistible. A terrific collection of short stories that unmasks the horror lurking in everyday humanity. You'll never look at your neighbors in the same way again."

Brian Pinkerton, author of The Nirvana Effect


"These are more than horror stories; these are little word grenades that roll quietly into the closet of your mind... only to explode later! I may never forget the last lines of "A Candle For The Birthday Boy," perhaps the perfect closer to this incendiary collection. Read at your own risk."

John Everson, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Five Deaths for Seven Songbirds and NightWhere

"Hawkins's bold premises and deft followthrough create gut-wrenching tension sure to thrill horror enthusiasts... Throughout, visceral imagery brings the terror to life: readers will hear the "wet gurgle" and see the "blossom of brownish red" liquid spreading out. Killer opening lines such as "It was the blood that changed everything" make the twisted and ominous worlds inviting."

Booklife


"This book is not for the faint of heart, as it will take you on a roller coaster of emotions with each twist and turn of the page. I would highly recommend Suburban Monsters to anyone who is looking for a captivating and chilling read. The writing is exceptional, with each story offering a unique perspective on the darker side of suburban life. Whether you're a seasoned horror fan or just starting to explore the genre, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression."

Reedsy Discovery

About the Author

Christopher Hawkins is an award-winning horror writer, and the author of the short story collection Suburban Monsters and the novel Downpour. He is the former editor of the One Buck Horror anthology series and co-chair of the Chicagoland chapter of the Horror Writers Association. When he's not writing, he spends his time exploring old cemeteries, lurking in museums, and searching for a decent cup of tea.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BK24F9H2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Coronis Publishing (March 15, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 15, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 241 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 207 ratings

About the author

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Christopher Hawkins
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Born and raised near the shores of Lake Michigan, Christopher Hawkins has been writing and telling stories for as long as he can remember. A dyed-in-the-wool geek, he is an avid collector of books, roleplaying games and curiosities. When he's not writing, he spends his time exploring old cemeteries, lurking in museums, and searching for a decent cup of tea.

Christopher is an award-winning author and the former editor of the One Buck Horror anthology series. His works of short fiction have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Cosmic Horror Monthly, Fusion Fragment, Underland Arcana and The Big Book of New Short Horror. He is a member of the Chicago Writers Association and the Chicagoland chapter of the Horror Writers Association.

An expatriate Hoosier, Christopher currently lives in a suburb of Chicago with his wife and two sons.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
207 global ratings

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The Worse Kind Of Sick
5 out of 5 stars
The Worse Kind Of Sick
- With a piñata, childhood friends and a delicious punch bowl, a father’s son is turning six and is in full birthday party mode. However when fear and dread take over the festivities, a horrific aftermath of devastation becomes an unsettling reality. - A husband and wife settle in for a good time on a moonlight beach where calm waves meet the quiet shore. Nevertheless, the romantic setting is nothing but a facade for an abusive relationship where the opportunity for freedom is just an ocean wave away. - Equipped with lock pick and flashlight, a thief is preparing for a valuable score within the walls of a stranger’s house. Instead of finding a jewelry box or safe, an encounter with something not of this earth provides the burglar with a frightening valuable life lesson. Suburban Monsters by Christopher Hawkins is thirteen tales of terror glued together with the worse kind of sick. Feeding on apprehensive phobias, Hawkins conceives new ways to expose the reader to an ultimate creepiness. The sensation of having an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other linger between the pages and throughout each story. Beware: these horrific morsels are intensely similar to a parasite that feeds on fear and anxiety. Ok, let’s address the elephant in the room shall we…The Stumblyum Imperative. A little girl is enamored with a children’s television show. A production that features fuzzy plush costumed characters with oversized hands and shady values. As Stumblybum, Tink-A-Bink, Mudgett and Ringmaster Reggie prepare for the arrival of The Toyman, an uneasiness of an apocalyptic Book Of Revelations of sorts approaches. If M. Night Shyamalan directed an episode of The Teletubbies, you would have the twistedness that exists within this disturbing short story. Not only is this worth the price of admission, it should be a full blown novel. Author Christopher Hawkins has something to show you. Mannequins, phantoms and powers that dwell within the shadows. Take his hand and follow, you won’t ever be the same again. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2023
    I just read this collection of 13 short stories today. They're all different, all awesome. I loved them all and will definitely be looking for new material from him in the future. Highly recommend this fun book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2023
    This was an excellent collection of stories. I loved them all. I look forward to reading more from this author
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2024
    I believe this was suggested after I asked for some referrals for light horror. This was not. Most of the stories are just depressing with people going over the deep end and doing some horrible things. The one story I liked was the Shadow man, because it was about retribution. I myself was bullied as a child and sometimes wished I could get back at my tormentors. These bullies are far worse than anything I had to deal with and I felt they had it coming. Still wonder how that kid wound up in the hospital. I blame the parents.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2024
    I read Christopher Hawkins' Downpour earlier in the year. I still think about that book all the time, so I was thrilled to read this collection of short stories. It was everything I hoped it would be, and there are two stories in particular (The Stumblybum Imperative and A Candle for the Birthday Boy) that will absolutely stick with me. 4.5 stars
    Green Eyes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Moonrise Over Water With Sargassum, 2022. Oil On Canvas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Storms of the Present ⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Origin Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
    Poppy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Interlude ⭐⭐⭐⭐
    The Stumblybum Imperative ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Shadowman ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
    Carpenter's Thumb ⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Swallow ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
    Ten and Gone ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
    Notice ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
    A Candle for the Birthday Boy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2024
    I know I’ve mentioned the Scarelastic Book Fair more than once, but I do have to refresh the memory every time I sit down to review a book or an author from that day. It was a hugely memorable day for me, so I thoroughly enjoy reliving that experience as often as possible. This author was at a table with other authors from the same publishing house, and I genuinely struggled with not being able to buy one from each author. I picked this one because I loved the cover art, which shows just how important the cover is.
    I’m not a huge fan of short stories. I keep reading them, and every now and then I find some I truly enjoy, but for the most part, I always feel like I’ve been shortchanged a full story (they’re also insanely difficult to review). One of the stories in the book, Storms of the Present, is a prime example of why short stories irritate me. I enjoy digging into stories, to see them fleshed out from start to finish (the choice of words is intentional here), but with short stories, it often feels like I’ve been dropped into the middle and it’s up to my imagination to put the pieces together. With this story, Hawkins did a good job of dropping the pieces of the story puzzle, so my imagination didn’t have to work very hard, but I still wanted more. For many, this is what makes short stories appealing, and I get that. However, I don’t want to think, I just want to enjoy somebody else’s creativity.
    Putting on my “I like to review books hat,” again, I can fully admit that Hawkins delivers an anthology of stunning examples of short stories. Each one seems to examine a standard phobia: bullies, clowns, abandonment, mommy issues, etc., which increased my overall enjoyment of the book as a whole. When I got to the end, I was genuinely concerned about Hawkins’s well-being, because most of this book is deeply unsettling. THAT is a testament to the effectiveness of his writing. Hawkins is a gem in the world of horror literature.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023
    Not my favorite. Nothing about the stories really stuck out to me, and it's probably just a preference thing more than it is the author, but I can't stand stories that just randomly cut off, which happened often. I typically stray away from short stories for this very reason. Rarely do I find ones with endings that make sense.

    I'm sure these stories are a favorite for a lot of people, just not really my cup of tea I suppose.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023
    Rating: 5 stars

    This anthology was a fantastic introduction to Christopher Hawkins' talent for horror. Each story centers around a different aspect of suburban life (and the horrors that may be lurking right next door). This anthology has grief, pain, humor, and moments of genuine terror or just-plain-awesomeness. I read a lot of horror anthologies and a few of these rank among my new favorites ("The Stumblybum Imperative" and "Shadowman", specifically - but others were solid contenders!) Here are my quick thoughts on each individual story:

    Green Eyes: I instantly knew that I was going to be a fan of Hawkins' writing style after this one. I highlighted several passages that were beautiful but so painful. Grief horror and literary horror fans will enjoy this one. (4/5)

    Moonrise Over Water With Sargassum, 2022. Oil on Canvas: Another one for literary horror fans. Absolutely beautiful writing. (3.5/5)

    Storms of the Present: I read a lot of extreme horror and splatterpunk... and this one has some of the best body-horror gore that I've ever read. While reading this short story, a few passages actually triggered my squeamishness and I started getting light-headed - which is the very first time that's ever happened from reading gore. As a horror fan, I say this as a compliment, as I consider that a huge accomplishment and a testament to Hawkins' writing ability. (4.5/5 with a very large "self-harm" trigger warning)

    Origin Story: Man. I loved this one. So different from the previous story. Not-so-much horror but fellow comic book lovers will really enjoy this one. (4/5)

    Poppy: I freakin' love a good mannequin horror story. Poor Poppy. Enjoyed the ride but the ending felt rushed and wasn't my favorite. (3/5)

    Interlude: So much heart paacked into a little bite-sized tale. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. (4/5)

    The Stumblybum Imperative: I highlighted so many passages from this one. I don't think I love anything more than a creepy/possibly-sinister children's show. Reminiscent of the "Candle Cove" creepypasta. (10000/5)

    Shadowman: This was a great little coming-of-age horror with heart. That ending! (4.5/5)

    Carpenter's Thumb: Another one that perfectly blended horror and humor. Really well done and so goofy. (4/5)

    Swallow: At this point, I'm about to write a love letter to Christopher Hawkins. Crazy good. Heartbreaking. (5/5)

    Ten and Gone: This story is just all-around solid horror writing. (3.5/5)

    Notice: It was okay - not my favorite (3/5)

    A Candle for the Birthday Boy: Great way to wrap up this anthology, with a bloody and shocking finale. (5/5)

    As with any anthology, there are always a few that were just "okay", but I still chose to rate the overall anthology at 5-stars due to the level of talent showcased throughout the full collection of short stories. I can't wait to read more from this author! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
    One person found this helpful
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