This book I think would be most scary for a younger audience, maybe a teenager. I still found the book really fun and a great way to get into the spooky season. Much like any short story collection, some of the stories were hits and some were sort of lack luster. I would say these short stories are more spooky than outright scary! Definitely a must read if you are looking for something short and fun to read around fall!

These short stories were great for Halloween. It got me in the mood for spooky season and I truly enjoyed the different stories.

Some fun stories, some scary stories. If you like short horror stories like goosebumps or even scary stories to tell in the dark, you will enjoy these.
Of course my favorite one was Brian McAuley 's as always, he is one of my favorite horror authors afterall.

This was so wonderfully nostalgic. A horrific collection of Halloween tales, from haunted pumpkin patches to booger hungry witches, these tales will make you laugh and give you goosebumps. If you have any love for the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, you have to give this a shot. I love that it is compiled of diverse authors too!

This title builds on the scary stories to tell in the dark . It's a collection of short stories that would be perfect for upper-elementary/middle-grade students. I think it's just the right type of scary for them without being too intense.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for this eARC!

As with any anthology, there are some stories that make an impression and others that don't necessarily resonate with the reader. As with any reading experience, this is entirely subjective, and each story will have its audience!! I truly believe all will be loved and that all have their place in this anthology, even as I have my favorites and those that I didn't find myself very invested in.

The nostalgia factor alone makes this anthology a really spectacular read for those who grew up reading Goosebumps and the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series.

I struggled at times because it felt like a book for a much younger audience, lulled as I was by the nostalgic pull of experiencing halloween in the past, but very soon after feeling that way something gruesome and disconcerting occurred (I loved it) and reminded me that a false sense of safety is a dangerous illusion to succumb to. To reiterate, I was not necessarily the right audience for some of these stories, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ones that scared me.

This book will do well with readers who dive in expecting a nostalgic and straightforward youth-leaning horror experience, highlighting both the joys of childhood halloween mischief and the fear and apprehension of battling parents, peers, ghouls, and slashers.

This is a collection of 18 short stories that are a great way to get into the Halloween mood. None of the stories are overly scary or terrifying and the best way to describe them is that most would be perfect for episodes of 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' if that show was still being produced. This collection does an excellent job of carrying on the tradition of anthologies such as 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' or longer stories by R.L. Stine. Definitely recommend this collection to fans of Halloween.

Like most short story collections, some hit harder than others. That said, this one really delivered a wave of nostalgia—I had full-on goosebumps from the 90s vibes. It was a quick, enjoyable read, though not every story stuck with me. Overall, I’d give it about 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC; book is out Sept 16,2025.

This is a fun short story collection that will remind readers who remember the Scary Stories of yore of scares from way back when; these are much scarier than a kids book though. As spooky season approaches these stories will give you a fright and make for a great short read.

This is honestly one of the best horror anthologies I’ve ever read! I loved every single story, even the ones that weren’t all that scary had something special.

It feels like Goosebumps for adults, and I’ve got everything crossed for a second edition. I’ll even be grabbing a hard copy from the US because I need this on my shelf to reread every Halloween.

If you grew up loving Goosebumps and want that same nostalgic joy with a darker, sharper edge, this is the collection for you.

Don’t miss this one, especially with spooky season right around the corner. Releases September 16th!

I read this as an arc read. My rating is a solid 3 stars. This book was trying to capture the magic of scary stories to tell in the dark but couldn’t quite measure up to the classic. I felt like this book couldn’t decide if this should be marketed for children or young adults. Some stories were very grade school where others were teen level with the language. I did enjoy this book some but it didn’t live up to my expectations.

Reading Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night instantly brought me back to my childhood. The descriptions of walking down the street, seeing houses decorated for trick or treat, instantly took me back to the mid-90s. I really appreciated how the book leans into the classic Halloween vibe. A few of the stories stood out for their atmosphere and creativity (Best Friends Forever being one), giving me that shiver of excitement I was hoping for.

That said, I couldn’t help but feel that many of the stories were over way too quickly. They often felt like fun ideas or premises that never had the chance to fully develop into something memorable. The twists didn’t always land, and in several cases I was left wishing for more buildup, detail, or character depth to really immerse me in the scares. Instead of lingering in my mind the way the best horror tales do, many of them faded quickly.

Still, as a light, seasonal read, this anthology does succeed in setting a spooky mood and bringing a wave of nostalgia for the ghost stories and urban legends of years past. If you’re looking for a quick, Halloween-themed collection to flip through and revisit that feeling of being a kid telling scary stories in the dark, this will deliver. Just don’t expect fully fleshed-out horror—think of it more as bite-sized chills than deeply haunting tales.

Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

thank you to netgalley and ibpa for this arc! as a huge halloween and everything-creepy enthusiast, i just had to give this one a read. however, i do have to say that while this was listed on netgalley as adult fiction, these stories definitely read as more suitable for middle grades or young adults. there’s nothing inherently negative about that, but as an adult, it did take off some points for me. if you’re in the mood for some pretty cheesy halloween anthologies to get you in the fall mood, this collection may be for you, but if you’re looking for something that will genuinely freak you out, i wouldn’t recommend this one.

1 star

Oh my, This anthology was bad. So bad. When I got it I thought that it was YA, only to find out it is meant for adults. It’s not. Actually, the short stories would be perfect for middle grade children if it weren’t for the bad language and references to sex, so I guess that makes it bad for everyone. I kept wanting to give up on it and I should have listened to myself.

Thanks to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for this ARC! Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night is a fun, spooky collection that feels like staying up too late as a kid, daring yourself to read just one more story. Quick scares, eerie vibes, and that perfect campfire-style creepiness make it a bingeable pick for spooky season.

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology creeps onto shelves September, 2025, inviting readers into a devilishly nostalgic collection of short, Scary-Stories-inspired chills. Featuring a wide roster of voices—including William Sterling himself with the unsettling “We Don’t Go in the Howards’ House”—the anthology mixes eerie childhood nostalgia with fresh, modern frights. Each tale crackles with that timeless don’t-go-in-the-basement tension, delivering sharp shocks, lingering unease, and the irresistible thrill of Halloween night—like landing a full-size candy bar in your trick-or-treat stash.

This book was stated to be for adults, yet every story was about a child and written in a way that made it clear it was for a much younger audience. I appreciated the attempt at a throw back to Scary Stories, it really was a great era for reading, but this didn't do it justice at all.

I absolutely love this book. As a kid these books were the books I would stay up all night reading, hidden underneath my blanket and reading with a flashlight. Now as an adult I find myself even more excited to read the Twisted Tales in the Night as I was back when I was a teen. The stories are magical and easily take you on a spooky trip to new realms and horrors. This is definitely a book I will be adding to my colection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the eARC.

This reminded me SO much of my childhood! I wish I'd waited until autumn to read it, but this is a great horror anthology!

Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for this ARC! Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night is such a fun, chilling collection that reminded me of staying up too late as a kid, daring myself to read just one more scary story. Some of the tales are quick, sharp shocks, while others linger in the back of your mind long after you’ve closed the book. I loved the mix of eerie atmosphere and campfire-style creepiness—it feels like a throwback in the best possible way. It’s the perfect pick if you want something spooky but bingeable.