#SpringHorror Review: Everything That's Underneath by Kristi DeMeester

Looking for some short creepy fiction? This book is for you!


Everything That's Underneath by Kristi DeMeester
Horror Fiction Collection
Released 2017
Amazon ♦ Goodreads
Everything That’s Underneath, Kristi DeMeester’s debut powerful horror collection, is full of weird, unsettling tales that recalls the styles of such accomplished storytellers as Laird Barron and Tom Piccirilli.

Crawl across the earth and dig in the dirt. Feel it. Tearing at your nails, gritty between your teeth, filling your nostrils. Consume it until it has consumed you. For there you will find the voices that have called from the shadows, the ones that promise to cherish you only to rip your body to shreds.

In Everything That’s Underneath, Kristi DeMeester explores the dark places most people avoid. A hole in an abandoned lot, an illness twisting your loved one into someone you don’t recognize, lust that pushes you farther and farther until no one can hear yours cry for help. In these 18 stories the characters cannot escape the evil that is haunting them. They must make a choice: accept it and become part of what terrifies them the most or allow it to consume them and live in fear forever. 


My Thoughts:

First off I want to thank my generous friend Kimberly for sharing this book with me!

All of the stories in this collection are infected with a darkness that creeps under your skin. All of them. This review would become a book in itself if I were to break down every story as I usually do with collections so I’m not going to do it this time. The other reason is the fact that many of the stories contain very similar themes and I’m lazy. Some of the stories are only two pages long but they all pack a punch. I absolutely cannot wait to read more of this writers work. Every single story, yep, even the two-pagers, is darkly atmospheric and has a beautiful earthy grit that I just loved.

I took copious notes but I’m going to ignore them for the most part and just spotlight a few stories so you can get the gist of the content. You really should read this yourself and not have it all spoilered for you anyway.

Everything That’s Underneath starts things off with a man named Benjamin who is creating something for his wife. Something solid. Something good. Something that allows something to creep in. That something knows her name . . .

This is a hell of a creepy story. I was sitting in a mechanic’s shop waiting for the inevitable bad news but was able to tune out all my worries once I started this strange little tale. Reading these stories feels like you've stepping into another world.

This quote from one of my favorite childhood shows, Tales from the Darkside, sums it up perfectly:

“...there is, unseen by most, an underworld, a place that is just as real, but not as brightly lit...a dark side.”

All of the stories reveal a dark side, an underbelly of fear, decay, dirt, blood. The writing is lush, morbid, darkly dreamy and haunting and the scenes are often raw and messy.


The Fleshtival

A flyer promises “Pussy for miles” and it is coming to a town near two perverts. For $1000 bucks these two fools head off into the woods to get what’s coming to them. I had an inkling what was coming to Paul and I couldn’t wait for it to happen!

From Like Feather, Like Bone

“I try to ignore her, but she is crunching its bones, and the sound is like the ground cracking open.”

Wow, so much creepy despair in only 3 pages!

Daughters of Hecate

This is a tale of abuse, terrible mothers and the damage they inflict all wrapped in a bleak horrific tale. Mother/daughter relationships are a huge theme in this collection.

Towards the end I will admit that I was starting to fatigue from this collection because many of themes are so similar and dealing with loss and desperation and messed up relationships. I would suggest doling these out one story at a time in between other reads as opposed to gobbling them all up at once as I tried to do.

Highly recommend for dark fiction fans!

Book #1 for the Spring into Horror Readathon

Click to Join the Horror Readathon!

Comments

  1. Glad you enjoyed this one. I have a copy from my Nocturnal Readers Box. Guess I should start reading what they send me huh? I HATE car issues - hope the news wasn't THAT horrible!

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    1. You should read it, it's a good one! Front brakes. It's always something. I really wish I didn't need a car!

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  2. Horror in Spring! That's not incongruous at all. Lol. I like the sound of this collection, though. That first one has me curious. o.o

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    1. Perfect time for horror :) I just wish spring would actually arrive. It's a creepy, moody little collection that is great for night reading.

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  3. I'm going to have to remember this one come October when I'm looking for something good and creepy to read! :)

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  4. Not a bad one in the bunch?! Count me in. I love horror and collections. Thanks for sharing this.

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  5. I have a copy of this from Apex that I still haven't managed to read. I'm totally going to figure out how to squeeze it in soon. It sounds like just what I need!

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    1. Too many books. I can sympathize! I hope you get a chance to read it soon. But it's a good one to read a little bit of here and there if you're low on time or in-between books too.

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  6. Horror is just perfect all year round!

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  7. Collections can always be hot or miss so it's rare to love all of them - and even the ones only 2 pages long!

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Yes, I so agree. I usually have nitpicks about a few stories and was so glad that this one was refreshingly solid.

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  8. It is always great to find a collection where you actually enjoy all of the stories. I am impressed that some of them worked even though they were incredibly short. Glad you enjoyed it!

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    1. I think they work so well because of the consistent mood she sets.

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