What a delicious taste of the sweat and fear I've come to expect from southern-style gothic horror. This collection explores the oppressive overbalance of the Bible Belt so well, and it truly forces the reader to engage with their discomfort both while reading but long after you put each story down. This book truly evokes that discomfort, the heat, the terror, and the dread of long American summer nights I'm sure many people can relate to. Definitely pick this one up! I'll be sure to read the author's other work after enjoying this one so much.

This was my first time reading a book by Scott Thomas and I'm definitely interested in reading his other work now! This is a collection of four novellas, my favorite being the last one. They all maintained tension throughout and did also make sense as a collection. The stories were creepy, and the characters were compelling.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

"In our galley letter for Violet [also by Scott Thomas] referring to the dominance of the horror greats, we wrote that nothing tall grows in the shadow of a great oak. We humbly submit this collection of novellas as more than a seedling in the shade of these great oaks." Inkshares

"...now I know that Kill Creek isn’t the only stain on this world. It’s not one shadow we live in but a series of shadows cast by objects we don’t even know are there. Most people focus only on the sunlight because that’s the way you get through life— you think of the warmth and try to ignore the shiver that runs down your spine or the prickling of your skin when you suddenly pass unexpectedly through darkness."

Author Scott Thomas writing style, if you've sampled his other works, often involves a story within a story, which I quite like. These novellas are no exception. I enjoyed April Staudt's Roeland Park, Kansas trek to meet her mysterious father. "My father was once two people [she says]. This is the story of how he became a third." and so begins the first story within a story. Scott Thomas is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. His books almost keep me entranced. I can't explain it, but the prose has a melodic, uncanny vibe to it that I can't get enough of. If you enjoyed Kill Creek, go immediately and preorder Midwestern Gothic, which releases Sept 17th.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of short story anthologies, Scott Thomas writing speaks to me. Outstanding work on these. I will now be circling back for Violet.

I really enjoyed the pace and the characters. In each story I was rooting for the protagonist and 3 of the 4 stories I was disappointed by what happened. I flew through each story quickly wanting to know what happened. The writing is great but I just feel that not every scary story needs a terrible ending. We have enough of that in the real world.

A brilliant collection of novellas, this is a perfect addition to the horror genre. My favourite amongst them was the last novella. It was the perfect blend of creepy, spine-tingling and at the same time well written. (Round off rating at 3.75 stars).

3/5 stars

When I got approved to read an advanced copy of Scott Thomas' newest book, "Midwestern Gothic", I literally squealed out loud. I ADORE "Kill Creek"and was giddyyyyyyy to read this book!

Unfortunately, this one was SUCH a bummer. I've been avoiding writing this review simply because I really, really, REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to love this book....and I just don't.

"Midwestern Gothic" is a collection of 4 novellas, each with a sightly different vibe.

1: The Door in the Field - my least favorite. I probably would have dnf'd if it wasn't freaking Scott Thomas. Slasher, gore gross.
2: Wear Your Secret Like a Stone- erm, this one confused me. Characters were cool, but idk what the heck actually happened.
3: The Boy in the Woods - summer camp terror. Think monster in the woods.
4: One Half of a Child’s Face - kindaaa Hitchcock, "rear window" type of energy.

It pains me to write this review, because Kill Creek really is one my favorite horror books...but for me, this follow up missed the mark. With that said, if you are a fan of novellas (or of Kill Creek!), maybe this will do it for you. It just didn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgallery and Inkshares for an early release copy of Midwestern Gothic by Scott Thomas, this book will be available for purchase on September Seventh of 2024.

I struggled at first to really get into the writing of Midwestern Gothic, the writing is dense and I found it sometime hard to make sense of what was happening. I know there was some sort of deeper meaning I was suppose to find in each story but it just didn’t click with me.

The first story with Ray I wasn’t particularly interested in but I did make it through, even when the writing was hard to read at times I liked the way characters were written, things were slow at first but once they pick up they get good. The graphic gore and horrific scenes are good! The characters are good, however the first and second story’s were both a little flat for me. I wish they were developed a little more like our last two stories.

The boy in the woods was my favorite of all the short stories, my second favorite has to be One Half of a child’s face, both of these stories felt more fleshed out compared to the first two stories, the endings were also more satisfying then the first two.

Overall my rating for Midwestern Gothic is a 3.5, I would definitely read more from this author.

_Midwestern Gothic_ by Scott Thomas is a collection of horror stories that are engrossing, dark, and are so detailed in the gothic setting of the Midwest that the reader feels like they are there with the characters. _The Door in the Field_ tells the story of Rayland Allen, a construction worker with a harrowing past who falls into a very disturbing discovery that chills the reader. _Wear Your Secret Like a Stone_ follows Tara, a supermarket worker dealing with the loss of a close friend and who dreams of leaving town, who becomes obsessed with an old town legend. _The Boy in the Woods_ centers on the child Eddie who suffers with trauma as he struggles to survive one more night at summer camp. And lastly _One Half of a Child’s Face_ follows Sienna, a voyeur of a nearby apartment building where her family lives, as she watches children in the building mysteriously gather around a sinister painting. All of the stories fill the reader with dread and fear and will keep them engrossed. This is a great gothic horror collection.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This collection works. It's not particularly easy to find a short story collection that grabs your attention with every single one of its tales. Midwestern Gothic did it for me. And if you're familiar with Kill Creek (I was only aware of the plot), you'll find cool easter eggs in here too.

There is a feeling of dread shared by all four stories. I didn't find them to be scary, but they are intriguing and certainly deal with creepy and uneasy topics. I decided to ask for this arc after a friend told me about it and i'm very glad I did.

My favorite one was One Half of a Child’s Face, it really did end the book with a bang. I would recommend Midwestern Gothic to horror fans and non horror fans.

Being that the Midwestern United States is not the first place I think of when I hear the word "gothic," I found the title alone intriguing enough to request this from NetGalley. (That and the fact that I'm already a fan of Scott Thomas' work.) As it turns out, this was a great decision on my part!

Midwestern Gothic contains 4 novellas that range from cosmic to gory to just plain scary. If you've read his book KILL CREEK, you are already familiar with Blantonville, Kansas. (Please note that you do NOT have to have read KILL CREEK to read this collection. But if you have, there are some nice Easter eggs here for you!) In my opinion, Blantonville is just as scary as Derry, Maine, Oxrun Station, or Goblin, Michigan. (If you know, you know.)

Within this novella we meet a few of the citizens of Blantonville, but what's most interesting about this book as a whole is that it's the land itself that is haunted. The history of it, the battles over it, etc.. It's not a haunted house, it's not a serial killer, (though there are some), it's just land. Land that has soaked up the blood of its inhabitants for years, even centuries.

Stand alone doors in a field, pathways to other worlds, a smidge of the cosmic, a horrific story of summer camp, and a woman who watches the apartments of her neighbors instead of television. The last tale of the woman watching a nearby apartment building was brilliant. (Rear Window-ish brilliant.) The main character of the story is editing a book about gothic stories in the Midwest, while being a character in a book about gothic stories of the Midwest. Again, I say BRILLIANT!

This novella collection has everything a horror lover like me wants in a book. It has the scares and the gore, but it also has a sense of itself, if that makes any sense. As I was reading, the admirable skills of the author became readily apparent and I devoured the 440 pages within a week. When I wasn't reading I wanted to be. MIDWESTERN GOTHIC made me wish I didn't have a full time job and a family. It was that good.

To sum up, I think this is now my favorite Scott Thomas book, even over KILL CREEK, which I adored. Four novellas, each its own distinct tale, each taking place on that haunted Midwestern land.

My highest recommendation!

*ARC from publisher. Thank you!*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

HUGE fan of Kill Creek, so was very excited to read these 4 short stories. Totally exceeded my expectations--especially the returning characters from Kill Creek.

My favorite was A Boy in the Woods. Great twist on the classic summer camp yarn.

Eager to read Scott Thomas' next novel.

Having lived in the Midwest my entire life this book of short stories was a real treat. Gothic horror can be found anywhere, even in a barn or a farmhouse or possibly just the stolen land.

I enjoyed all the stories, but my absolute favorite was One Half of a Child’s Face. My favorite movie of all time is Hitchcock’s Rear Window and this had all the vibes.

Sienna is lonely without her daughter, having to share weekends with her ex husband and his new girlfriend. She passes the time by editing a collection of essays, Scares and Stripes, (I’d like to read that myself) and watching the windows and people in the apartment building next door. Her ex husband happens to live in one of those apartments.

The horror in this tale is real and monstrous. Imagine the movie Sinister, but with a single mom heroine. I immediately related to Sienna. She’s one of my favorite characters in a book so far in 2024z

For fans of gothic horror with a modern twist, folk horror and strong female protagonists.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

I had a good time with Midwestern Gothic. Usually I am not a fan of novella/short story collections because they feel so random. This was different because of the connection between the stories. It reminded me of the way so many Stephen King novels are connected by the haunted town, or a land that is eerie and dangerous somehow. Thomas did a nice job developing satisfying and uniquely spooky stories. My personal favorites were The Door In the Field and The Boy In the Woods.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Midwestern Gothic" by Scott Thomas is a compelling collection that delves deep into the heart of American folklore, intertwining the mundane with the macabre. This anthology of novellas is a testament to Thomas' ability to transform the familiar landscapes of the Midwest into realms of haunting tales and unsettling mysteries.

The book opens with "The Door in the Field" , where we follow Rayland Allen, a construction worker whose bad day spirals into a nightmarish ordeal. Thomas masterfully crafts a narrative that is as much about the internal demons as it is about the external horrors that Rayland faces.

In "The Boy in the Woods" , the innocence of summer camp is shattered by a creeping evil that infects the counselors. Young Eddie Reicher's fight for survival is a chilling reminder of the thin veil between childhood fears and real-world terrors.

"One Half of a Child’s Face" introduces us to Sienna Franklin, a recently divorced mother who becomes entangled in a disturbing mystery centered around a peculiar painting. Thomas' exploration of obsession and the supernatural is both gripping and thought-provoking.

The collection concludes with "Wear Your Secret Like a Stone", as the seemingly innocuous task of setting up a Halloween book display unearths a dark sectet. This story is a poignant commentary on the shadows that lurk beneath the surface of small-town life.

Scott Thomas' "Midwestern Gothic" is not just a series of horror stories; it is a mosaic of the human condition, painted on a canvas of the eerie and the Gothic. The novellas, each around 100 pages, are the perfect length to immerse oneself fully without overstaying their welcome. The interconnections between the stories and nods to Thomas' previous work, "Kill Creek" , add layers of depth and intrigue.

The use of folklore is particularly striking, with each tale drawing from different cultural backgrounds, yet all converging in the Midwestern setting. The references to horror literature throughout the book create a rich tapestry that celebrates the genre and its enthusiasts.

"Midwestern Gothic" is a must-read for fans of horror and Gothic fiction. This is a collection that but resonates with the reader, ensuring Scott Thomas reputation as a master of Midwestern Gothic, and this book is a shining example of his craft.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkshares for the ARC.

Midwestern Gothic by Scott Thomas is an ode to Midwestern horror. The Midwest is filled with a blend of industrial and decaying barns, thick forests, sprawling corn fields, rolling hills of wheat, and an unlabeled feeling of unease when the sun falls behind the horizon. As a Midwesterner myself I loved seeing my part of the country receive recognition for its unique brand of gothic horror. It’s the place I call home and the place I think deserves its own regionally specific horror.

Midwestern Gothic is comprised of four novellas revolving around different characters throughout Kansas. Each novella makes references to Thomas’s other novel Kill Creek which adds a layer that fans will love to pick up on. The revolving cast makes for a fresh start to the horror with every novella. My personal favorite was the very last story, One Half of a Child’s Face. It was a meta text that acknowledged its roots. The slow drip horror in this story revolves around a woman struggling with motherhood, divorce, guilt, and her past all while realizing there’s an antique horror stalking the neighborhood.

While Midwestern Gothic contains four separate stories, there’s an underlying thread that ties them all together. Thomas uses each novella to push the idea that the Midwestern brand of horror doesn’t stem from any individual human action but can be traced back to the land itself. Midwestern horror is a part of the soil, a part of the land itself, a brand of horror that we’ve built homes and lives upon, a horror we cannot escape because it has been here longer than we have. It was a wonderfully interesting take on horror that stands on its own against the main competitors of Southern and Northeastern Gothic.

Scott Thomas does a great job in bringing the Midwestern gothic elements on what was going on in this collection. I enjoyed each story and that it was wonderfully done. It had that horror element and worked with my expectations. It left me wanting to read more from Scott Thomas.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

My thanks to Inkshares Press, Scott Thomas and Netgalley.
So, I'll admit that I enjoyed this every bit as much as I expected. Scott Thomas has my respect and a wee bit of my very aged, teriyaki flavored, dried up husk of a heart! Lol!
I've seen a few reviews that said that they hadn't read the other Thomas books, so they had no comparison. Bunch of bullshit! Thomas doesn't make you dependant on his other books. He merely references them for context. IYKYK.
I hated the first story. Hate..
The rest? Multiple stars!******So, maybe, 4? Ha!
Scott Thomas is an auto but for me. The man just writes the strange shut and that makes.me happy!

I’ve never read kill creek by Scott Thomas but I did enjoy Midwestern Gothic. It was really fun to get the short insight how every story came to be at the beginning. After reading these I don’t want to go to Kansas (because of these scary stories) but he gave a sense of having been to Kansas and fits all the vibes. I love the interconnecting, slow detailed writing style that allows tension to build. This was a fun read for sure.

2.5 stars - Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. I loved Kill Creek by Thomas, but this series of 4 shorts was a world away. I'll keep my review short because I don't wish to speak ill towards a creation by an honoured author. Perhaps others will find more of a connection in the pages!

Pros: interesting premise, I enjoyed how there was some connection to each of the four authors from Kill Creek, and I enjoyed 2 of the stories out of 4.

Cons: bloated with irrelevant text, forgettable, boring.

Thank you Netgalley, Scott Thomas, and Inkshares publishers for this advanced copy