We all love to read horror but sometimes the idea of a long overdrawn story can seem daunting. Thankfully there are anthologies. The stories are short and you get several in one collection, all with their own shiver inducing storyline. “Wholesome Horror Anthology: Scary Stories That Aren’t What They Seem” by Lori Kauldrin is a collection of horror short stories that have one thing in common – all is not what it seems. If you like stories with a plot twist, this anthology is just for you.

Naomi Shulman (writing as Lori Kauldrin) is the author/ghostwriter of over 160 books for children and adults. Lori Kauldrin’s list is comprised of psychological thrillers with emotional depth that grab readers’ hearts and refuse to let go. The stories may be fiction – but they tell the truth. Her new book is “Wholesome Horror Anthology: Scary Stories That Aren’t What They Seem” is comprised of seven stories that are at times heart-rending and at times bittersweet, yet these are the stories of the in-between – the place between knowing and unknowing. It is available on Amazon, which includes a large print edition. (Naomi Shulman, 2023)

“Wholesome Horror Anthology: Scary Stories That Aren’t What They Seem” – A young child pens an eerie goodbye. A shy ten-year-old finally makes a friend – a child who shares his obsession with solving an unthinkable crime that was solved long before his birth. A college student with a fractured soul seeks the truth behind her death. As their terrible narratives unfold, a growing sense of unease gives way to a familiar twist: nothing is as it seems. Their horror remains until its completion, at which time they release the reader into the proper emotional sphere – be it grief, loneliness, or aching nostalgia. But tread carefully, for once you reach the ending, there is no going back to the illusion.

Stories in this collection include The Crime Scene in my Bathroom, The House Where I Grew Up, Broken Love, First Train: I Thought I Could, How Did I Die?, Second Train: Together We Can, and Goodbye Mommy. They are all easy to read and pull the reader into the haunting settings. You can easily read it in one sitting, or enjoy it one story at a time. While the language is easy to understand, the writing style is often poetic: “Jealousy burned like the flames of hell inside my empty heart” from How Did I Die? The House Where I Grew Up, First Train: I Thought I Could, and Second Train: Together We Can are written in long prose and showcase the author’s strength in poetry writing. Goodbye Mommy is meant to be a goodbye note, so it is creatively made to look handwritten and the paper looks crumbled. I do not want to give away any spoilers, you will have to read it for yourself to find out why. Overall, “Wholesome Horror Anthology” is a must read for horror fans who love a good plot twist, because sometimes illusions are the scariest when you do not see them coming. 

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