Dan DeWitt ‘Underneath: Short Tales of Horror and the Supernatural’ Review

Written by: Drake Morgan

Like anthologies, short story collections are a strange animal. Unlike novels, the reader only gets a slice of a story before moving on. Short stories are fragmentary, fleeting. But they can be a juicy little ride as well. If a novel doesn’t grab you, you’ve got a long way to go! Dan DeWitt’s collection underneath: Short Tales of Horror and the Supernatural is an eclectic and interesting lot.

There are the traditional zombies and killers in here, but DeWitt also plumbs the depths of psychological horror as well. Strange tales of dogs (who may or may not exist), dark shadows of the mind, and sinister beings lurking in the dark haunt the pages here. DeWitt moves beyond the cliché horror of blood, violence, guts, and gore. Does it always work? No, but the goal is in the attempt because he succeeds far more often. The stories are well-paced and there’s a nice balance between action and suspense. Even the zombie stories feel fresh and that’s tough to do these days with the walking dead! A few standouts include “Cupcakes”, “Marriage Counseling”, and “Sick Day”. DeWitt’s strength lies in his ability to take the normal, mundane moments in life and give each a dark and sickly twist. Normal becomes abnormal and slightly sinister. His stories aren’t written to sicken, but to make you look twice before going down those dark cellar steps!

This collection is short. It’s designed a free introduction to DeWitt’s work. I thoroughly enjoyed his style, characters, and dark spin on what is not all that normal. Give it a read and keep delving deeper here. “Orpheus” is a preview of his novel I believe and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Grab your copy of Underneath right here, as of today it’s on sale – ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE!!

Rating: 4/5