This is my first time reading this author and although I didn’t enjoy all of the stories, I think it gave me a very good idea of his writing and I will definitely check out more in the future.

Half the House is Haunted was probably my favorite of the stories. The shift from his sister being his tormentor who scares him with ghost stories to realizing that she was right and in her strange way protecting him from the haunted house was really well done.

Argyle was also an interesting story. The idea of a serial killer who decides not to kill and proudly shares all on his death bed to his family makes you wonder what really makes someone a good person. Are you a good person if you don’t do evil things just because you don’t have any desire to? Or is the one who lives with evil desires and fights to resist them an even better person for fighting their own nature?

Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer was fun if a bit repetitive. Doug and Judy were caricatures of bad people who walk over everyone else to get to the top, but their past comes back to haunt them as the house washer pulls out pictures and receipts.

The Jupiter Drop seemed like it should have been a lot more creepy than it really ended up feeling. It was a great premise but it didn’t really work for me.

And Egorov also just didn’t work for me even though it sounded like something I really would have loved. Unfortunately it was also the longest of the novellas and made the end of this collection really drag for me.

Overall I did enjoy reading this author and will seek out more of his work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this copy in exchange for a review.

I’ve read EVERY Josh Malerman and will continue to do so as long as he’s writing! My favorite being Unbury Carol and then Bird Box. Spin a Black Yarn is a great one! He knows how to do suspenseful and creepy!

This was probably my least favorite book I’ve read so far by Josh Malerman. The stories were a bit odd. The only one I really enjoyed was Argylle. Admittedly by the time I got to Egorov I was bored so I just skimmed that one. I do like how his stories are connected in one place and thru the characters. I’ll definitely read more of his stuff but very glad I didn’t purchase this collection.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

Maybe going the short story route for my first Malerman book wasn't the best idea, since collections are pretty hit or miss most of the time. Overall though I think I got a good understanding of his story writing potential. The stories were unique and contained an air of mystery. I liked the underlying thoughts/ideas these stories provoked. Although these were short stories, I did feel like they started to drag a bit. I also didn't feel any connections/or emotions towards most of the characters. I think with a longer book we might see those things develop more. I'd recommend this to people who are already a fan of his work.

I own this and intend to read it in the future I'm just clearing this off my board to reduce stress. I will update when I read/review.

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

Really enjoyed this collection! Malerman always comes through and the stories here are varied but all carry a strong of darkness throughout. Heavily enjoyed!

Unfortunately this one was too dark for me. I ended up dnfing it. I have read a few of this author's previous works and really enjoyed them. I guess this one just wasn't for me.

A beautiful constellation of stories-- Josh Malerman is a master of tone, pacing, and creating vivid images in the reader's mind.

I featured this book in a new release video prior to publication and was very excited to read short stories from this author!! I've really liked other books from Josh [Mr. Malerman?] and love his simplistic but very thought provoking spin he puts on horror stories. Will update when final review posts, but I'm expecting 5 stars!

Enjoyed this one very much, a fantastic short horror story collection from author Josh Malerman. Never disappoints, highly recommend!

One thing I love about a short story collection is when they all kind of intertwine with each other. This one has vague mentions to the other stories, and they all take place in about the same area, which heightened the enjoyment for me. I enjoyed most of the stories, but the last story kind of took me out of it. I really enjoyed the plot, but the story itself was way too long. I'd love to see some more sci-fi horror from Josh Malerman, though. His tale about a murderous cleaning technology nodded to not only the future, but past science fiction stories. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this short story collection!

It took me a bit to get into this collection, but I was hooked once I did. Josh Malerman is continuing to put himself forward as a strong voice in the horror genre. I could visualize the imagery of the stories well. They were unsettling and engaging. Well done.

Each story in SPIN A BLACK YARN warrants a uniquely different reaction, leaving readers with feelings of fear, horror, awe, and wonder. As always, Malerman did a stellar job. He’s brilliant. Also, the cover is ominous and beautiful!

The stories have all the right ingredients—eerie premises, dark twists, and psychological tension—but for some reason, they didn’t come together in a way that truly grabbed me. I appreciated the creativity behind each tale, like the haunting idea in “Half the House Is Haunted” and the unsettling domestic horror of “Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer™,” but I found myself wanting more depth or connection with the characters.

That said, Malerman’s writing is still strong, and I can see why some readers would enjoy these novellas. They’re quirky, unsettling, and play with the boundaries of reality in interesting ways. But for me, the collection as a whole didn’t leave the lasting impact I was hoping for.

Overall, Spin a Black Yarn is a mixed bag. If you’re a die-hard Malerman fan, it’s worth checking out, but if you’re new to his work, this might not be the best starting point. I’d still give it a shot if you’re into speculative horror, but just know it may not live up to the high bar set by some of his earlier novels.

"Spin a Black Yarn" by Josh Malerman is a mesmerizing and unsettling collection of stories that delve into the eerie and surreal. Its inventive narratives and chilling atmosphere showcase Malerman's talent for crafting psychological thrills and darkly imaginative tales.

Really enjoyed this collection by Josh Malerman. All the stories were great. Enjoyed the characters, the plots, and the pacing. Argyle was my favorite, but they were all great. #SpinaBlackYarn #NetGalley

Spin a Black Yarn is an engaging, creepy collection of short stories/novellas. Some (Half of the House is Haunted, Argyle) are stronger than others.

This didn't really feel like a short story collection as much as it did a "novella" collection. That being said, there are 5 stories/novellas, and they mostly missed for me. "Half the House is Haunted" was sort of interesting, but it was too drawn out and a bit boring to really get anywhere for me. "Argyle" was also sort of interesting, but it just felt like a lot of nothing went on. The ones that stood out the most for me were "Doug and Judy Buy the House WasherTM" -- this one was inventive and disturbing and fascinating. It moved quickly enough and had enough happening that I was fascinated, and it lingers. The other is "The Jupiter Drop" -- because what a crazy and implausible idea that would never happen but holy weirdness! If you're moneybags-McGee and feel like it, I guess (aka deep-sea submersible billionaires), then you can live in a one room glass box for 2 months while it "drops" through Jupiter? in space? but avoids the magma core? and there may or may not be forms out there in the planet layers that somehow seem like glowing, swirling, wormhole type visuals? Claustrophobic, like the "House Washer" tale, and also memory-rabbit holes, but it was so weird I liked it.

I ended up not being able to finish this one. The first couple stories did not have the same Josh Malerman feel that usually enjoy so much.