I always like picking up an anthology knowing all the stories will be new to me. There are some great authors in here, with a very nice variety of stories. There is something in here for every horror lover. As always, I enjoyed some more than others, but this is a solid collection of tales.

Excellent short stories. This will be a good book for the upcoming Spooky Season. I hope there's a second book.

I want to preface this review by saying I love Flame Tree and the way they do things. I have a large stack of their books on my shelf, and I don’t see my love for those red spines fading any time soon. This opinion is my own and has not been influenced by the publisher doing anything for me.

My love in Flame Tree being noted, I was very disappointed with After Sundown, the first volume in a new (hopeful) annual anthology of horror. Featuring twenty stories, sixteen of the featured authors are said to be some of the top in the genre; the other four were chosen during an extensive open submissions period. Despite there being sixteen supposedly big name authors included, I only recognized four of the names: CJ Tudor, Tim Lebbon, Grady Hendrix, and Ramsey Campbell. Everybody else was new to me.

These were also the writers that actually impressed me - their stories were the most enjoyable (with the exception of Lebbon’s “Research,” which felt underwhelming) of the collection. “Butterfly Island” (by CJ Tudor) was probably my favorite, right up there with Hendrix’s “Murder Board” (which was a story that stood on crime/drama above horror). Both of these entries were exciting and well-written. “Butterfly Island” felt like the explosive opening to an awesomely horrific novel, and “Murder Board” proposed an idea that surely deserves a prequel. Campbell’s “Wherever You Look” also featured some wonderful prose that flowed with ease, while holding my attention throughout.

Sadly, beyond these stories, I felt bored with this collection more often than I’d like to admit. There were entries that were fine, but lacking; and then there were stories that I actually daydreamed throughout. Unfortunately, that makes this collection more of a fail than anything for me. Hopefully, the next time they will get some more exciting stories in the mix.

Within these pages are stories so good you’d want them to become full-length novels, and an odd few that leave you wondering why the authors even bothered to write a story with no impact or shock value at all.

This is After Sundown.

My favorite of the twenty stories are Research by Tim Lebbon and Butterfly Island by C.J. Tudor. Morris, the editor and an author himself, made sure to give us the best stories first before easing us off with stories of myriad penmanship and creativity.

Butterfly Island, as you’d expect, is a story about an island of butterflies told with an apocalyptic setting. The characters in this short story are written with quick and easy realism that fits the profile of anyone trying to survive in a world where anarchy reigns supreme and it’s every person for himself.

Including graphic detail and bursting with mystery, Butterfly Island is a really good and quick read that makes you want to read more about it and perhaps even try picking up a novel from C.J. Tudor to see if his full-length storytelling is as captivating as his short stories.

I’d like to think Research is Tim Lebbon’s attempt at a self-examination if the author himself was ever locked away in isolation against his will.

Drawing upon his expertise as a horror writer and his experience in dealing with the writing process and the various aspects of the publishing industry (it’s only brief, so don’t worry about Lebbon delving into copious amounts of detail that derails the story in any way), Research is a story that, in hindsight, might be something plenty of amateur and professional writers often toy around with.

If you look at a horror writer’s browser history, you’d be surprised how on the nose Research has been written and how accurately it reflects the protagonist’s thoughts.

Unfortunately, there are two other short stories which I can’t give any decent amount of praise mainly due to the fact that, although original, they just aren’t worth the time to spend reading. I won’t name them, but there is a particular story about a dead girl spending her days in a graveyard reminiscing about days past who struggles to recall the cause of her death, her name, or anything else. She ambles about scaring the piss off teenagers while watching others drink themselves to the excitement of the place, to fool around, or just fail at suicide – in which the dead girl is happy to oblige.

Nothing worth note happens, but then again, I assume this was the author’s intention from the beginning. This is just a story about a dead girl doing nothing with no lasting impact that makes her unique, memorable, or special in any way.

The other story centers around a psychic who admits to the reader that he’s a fraud, keeps this fact from his gullible and desperate clientele, only to finally dismiss the handful of rare interactions his ‘spirit’ has to no concrete resolve. Straight through to the end this protagonist dismisses the spiritual voice as a trick of his assistant and continues with this approach, with maybe a slight glimmer of recognition, to the last page.

It’s quite the anti-climatic and dull story.

Now that I’ve spoiled two stories you would thank me for, there are loads of other short stories by notable and new authors that you would probably want to keep reading over and over.

I really enjoyed this horror anthology! I haven't heard of most of the authors and I love that I found some new ones!

There were some points in a couple stories where the pace slowed down and the book wasn't scary, but they definitely have the horror aspect to them.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Review Copy

Likle all anthologies, AFTER SUNDOWN is a mix of short stories by a wide variety of authors that may or may not appeal to any particular person. You've got to start each story and give it a chance before tossing it aside. You never know what gem you will find.

And there are some gems in this anthology. They may not be where you expect. Most editors have a method to how they place a story. Apparantly this editor isn't privy to that method. That, or his tastes are vastly different from the norm. I opt for the latter.

But, like I said, I found a few stories that I really liked - by authors both known and unknown to me. So all in all I think this was a pretty ok read. It's a mixed bag sure, but if you find a new auther? Well worth it!

Thanks to Flame Tree Press, Mark Morris "editor" and Netgalley .
There were quite a few storytellers here. That's why I chose this anthology.
The truth is that sometimes people who write stories need to be checked. That is what an editor does.? I'm honestly not sure. I just believe that there should be checks and balances.
Morris chose some fine author's. What he didn't choose was any single one of their fine stories!
Sorry, dude. You suck.

What a great anthology! The lack of categorization was great in that I had no clue what the next story would hold for me, as I kept reading. I loved: Butterfly Island by CJ Tudor, Swanskin by Alison Littlewood, That's the Spirit by Sarah Lotz, The Importance of Oral Hygiene and Alice's Rebellion by John Langan. There's something in here for every reader

This is a great collection of horror stories. I can't say I didn't like any story, because I actually liked them all.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This is a nice collection of some very creepy tales. Enjoyed all of them. Very talented authors. Highly recommend.

trigger warning
<spoiler> domestic abuse, corporeal punishment, child abuse, rape, gang rape, homophobia, torture, gore, drug abuse, alcohol abuse </spoiler>

I haven't been doing well with short story anthologies in the recent past. I guess it is because I have no plot to motivate me to pick up the book again, as I tend to try to finish a story before laying it aside for whatever reason.
But I think that horror is the genre I like short stories best at the moment.
There just is no long waiting span to see what for this particular horror will take, which I like.

Most authors you can find I didn't know beforehand. I've read previous books by Grady Hendrix and heard about C.J. Tudor, but those are the two writers I can think of, so this was a cool way of dipping in the styles and ideas of different people.

Of course, some stories I've liked better than others, but there was no disappointment in this collection for me. Some I would like to see explored in more detail, especially the one in which mythological creatures from all cultures suddenly appear dead or drawing their last breath.

Please be aware that I am not confident about the thoroughness of the warning list as I neglected to make notes while reading, which I really should have done as it took me so long to get through this.

I'd recommend this if you're either bored by how long some authors take to get to the supernatural part - looking at you, Stephen King - or if you want to try out the works of different authors - even if you want to take a look at this genre in general.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

When I saw this title in the Flame Tree Press newsletter, I decided I wanted a copy to review. I was immediately intrigued by the great list of authors including C.J. Tudor, Grady Hendrix, and many other writers familiar with the thriller/horror genre. I have been very interested in reading more horror so this seemed like the perfect addition to my TBR.

I rated each story individually and used that to decide on my rating of 3 stars. This collection had a very broad spectrum of stories I both loved and disliked with most settling at an average 3 star. My two favorite stories were It Doesn't Feel Right by Michael Marshall Smith and Murder Board by Grady Hendrix, which I gave 5/5 stars. They had elements of a horror/thriller that I really enjoy such as a creepy atmosphere and intense writing. My main critique of many of the stories was that they lacked that creepy or mysterious atmosphere that I was very much anticipating; at least in my personal opinion. Some also had writing styles I didn't vibe with which again is a personal preference. Overall this is a very entertaining collection of horror stories that could work especially well during a spooky read-a-thon in October. If you are a horror lover or interested in exploring the genre, this could be a great anthology to try.

Individual Ratings
1. Butterfly Island - 3
2. Research - 3
3. Swanskin - 2
4. That's the Spirit - 2
5. Gave - 4
6. Wherever You Look - 2
7. Same Time Next Year - 2
8. Mine Seven - 3
9. It Doesn't Feel Right - 5
10. Creeping Ivy - 2
11. Last Rites for the Fourth World - 3.5
12. We All Come Home - 4
13. The Importance of Oral Hygiene - 1
14. Bokeh - 4
15. Murder Board - 5
16. Alice's Rebellion - 1
17. The Mirror House - 4
18. The Naughty Step - 3
19. A Hotel in Germany - 2
20. Branch Line - 3

I’ve long been a fan of horror fiction, especially of the novella and short story and length, which seems ideally suited to the genre. As a child I gravitated from the popular Three Investigators mysteries in my local library - created by American author Robert Arthur and featuring the real-life film director Alfred Hitchcock as a character – through name association towards the Alfred Hitchcock anthologies, also edited by Robert Arthur. These books, most of which possessed evocative titles, were crammed with an array of talented writers, mainly crime but also quite a few classics of the macabre – HP Lovecraft, Patricia Highsmith, Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch, Joan Aiken, MR James, Roald Dahl, Shirley Jackson, Richard Matheson, etc, etc.

I’m nearly 50 years old now, and it’s fair to say that in the last few years my impression of the horror genre has become somewhat jaded. I’ve found myself reading far more crime than horror in the last few years. Why, I’m not really sure. Perhaps I’d become desensitised, or took for granted just what the genre has to offer. So nowadays I’m always slightly wary about picking up a new horror anthology. Disappointment is just so…well, disappointing.

After Sundown, edited by Mark Morris and published by Flame Tree Press, contains 20 original horror stories featuring some of the genre’s brightest contemporary names. Sixteen of these tales were commissioned from established writers, with the remaining four selected from an open submission window. This appears to be a great way of ensuring a decent standard whilst at the same time giving voice to emerging talent. It’s testament to the quality of the stories in that there’s no discernible difference between the pros and the lesser-known authors. Mark Morris has done a great job in putting together a fine selection.

There’s a refreshing lack of pretentiousness about these stories. The authors span several continents so there’s a decent array of themes and styles. Each tale had a very distinct voice, with a superb variety that perfectly illustrates what a broad church the genre covers. I had a blast reading this book. It really has reinvigorated my interest in the horror genre. Hopefully this will be the first in an ongoing annual publication from Flame Tree Press. And in that regard After Sundown is a great way to launch the series. Each tale was well-written, even if not every story was to my personal taste. But that’s the exciting thing about anthologies; there’s always another one coming along if the previous one didn’t quite do it. My favourite tales were probably the ones written by CJ Tudor, Ramsey Campbell, Michael Marshall Smith, Thana Niveau, Stephen Volk, Catriona Ward and Paul Finch, but really there’s not a bad story in there so I have no hesitation in urging everyone to give this a try. Recommended.

With this anthology, Morris proves he has an eye for quality and his finger on the pulse of the horror genre. He has assembled a stellar line-up of some of the top names in the genre, as well as four new authors. After Sundown contains 20 original horror stories. While, officially, there's no common theme to the stories, I've found one. Most of them are gripping from the get-go.

I especially liked the opening story Butterfly Island by C.J. Tudor – it's fast, furious, and uncompromising. Set in the near future, it follows a rag-tag group of survivors looking for a haven on a seemingly deserted island. It's a horror anthology so it won't come as a surprise that things go wrong and people end up being blown up, sacrificed, and eaten. All in 19 pages! I loved the idea and the execution. And I want more.

Most of the stories are good reads in a disturbing way. Some dive deep into terror, some contain the supernatural and uncanny to further raise the stakes. Take Grady Hendrix, for example. In Murder Board, he plays with the Ouija Board theme. What if the board messes with people sitting over it and trying to send a subconscious message to the other? Expect unexpected.

Other standouts for me included Sarah Lotz’s That's The Spirit about a fake psychic who may not be so fake after all, and Ramsey Campbell’s creepy Wherever You Look that defies categorization.

After Sundown is a fine horror anthology. Filled with spine-chilling stories, it'll make your heart race nonstop. It proves horror has no boundaries. You can find it in both supernatural and non-supernatural stories. Highly recommended.

This is an entertaining anthology of horror stories and as you would expect, some are more entertaining than others. There are a few that really make the hairs on the back of the reader's neck stand on end; there are just a few that were not so exciting and plenty in the middle that entertained and made me think.

Overall a fun read, in a genre that has some real gems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great collection of horror stories from horror industry-leading publisher Flame Tree Press. Unlike many short story collections, this one has very consistently good stories across the board. There were a few that “aren’t my thing” horror-wise, but all are very well-written and scary. My favorite was the CJ Tudor story about Butterfly Island that kicks off the book. I was sorry this story had to end when it did and would happily have read a whole book of it. Same thing with Swanskin. This book is very ably edited and curated and I am hopeful that, as the editor states, this may become a yearly compilation. Very high quality collection of stories to take your time enjoying. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, editor Mark Morris and Flame Tree press for the advance copy!

This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in the genre, and 4 of which have been selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a 2-week open submissions window. It is the first of what will hopefully become an annual, non-themed horror anthology of entirely original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer.

Most of the offerings were decent--a good anthology from flame tree press.

Very creepy.......but in a good way!
For fans of horror theres something for everyone. Another horror/ since that makes you think as well as scaring you.
If you're a fan of Stephen King these stories will really resonate with you and you will have more than one favorite.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. After Sundown is a collection of short stories published by Flame Tree Press, which happens to be one of my favorite publishers to find excellent new horror novels. This is an anthology that features 20 horror short stories -- 16 are from established authors and 4 are the result of a call for open submissions to find new talent. Among those 20 authors are some superstars including a couple of personal favorites -- Ramsey Campbell and Grady Hendrix. Overall,m I enjoyed this collection. Some of the stories were excellent and felt very fleshed out and complete. A few felt like they began as an idea for a full length novel that ultimately didn't go anywhere, so those stories felt very incomplete and left me wanting more. I did like variety of stories representing different sub-genres in the horror world. The best stories were Swanskin by Alison Littlewood, We All Come Home by Simon Bestwick, Bokeh by Thana Niveau, Murder Board by Grady Hendrix, Alice's Rebellion by John Langan, The Mirror House by Jonathan Robbins Leon, and Branch Line by Paul Finch. A couple of the stories were good, but just didn't feel complete -- more like a first chapter to a full length novel than a short story. Overall, I felt it was a solid and entertaining collection that I devoured in one evening. I rate the collection as a whole 4 stars.

This is an excellent horror anthology--and I read at least a dozen anthologies per year, often more like two dozen. I am not quite ready to post a review to Goodreads as I need to go back and reread some of the stories, but I wanted to pass along this feedback to the publisher.