“A masterfully written collection of dark and uniquely disquieting tales. Some tales collected here are bizarre and whimsical. Others are distressing and uncomfortable. Regardless, each tale is brilliantly tethered by an absolute truth: there is darkness lurking inside each person you pass on the street. Peel back the gristle and behold the exquisite void waiting for you beneath the skin…”
Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes
“An assortment of jolts, abominations, and shaken nerves that readers won’t soon forget.”
Kirkus Reviews
"Human fiends and supernatural ones collide in Hawkins' Suburban Monsters. Shows us that beneath any facade of normalcy, strange things lurk, just waiting to sink their teeth in. Christopher Hawkins loves turning over rocks and showing us the grotesque, squirming things underneath, and you'll have a hard time looking away."
Brian Asman, author of Man, Fuck This House
"Each of the stories in SUBURBAN MONSTERS is a masterful exercise in building tension and creating a sense of unease, as author Christopher Hawkins delves into the dark, twisted inner lives of characters who may not be all they seem."
IndieReader (Starred Review)
"Harrowing and irresistible. A terrific collection of short stories that unmasks the horror lurking in everyday humanity. You’ll never look at your neighbors in the same way again."
Brian Pinkerton, author of The Nirvana Effect
“Hawkins’s bold premises and deft followthrough create gut-wrenching tension sure to thrill horror enthusiasts... Throughout, visceral imagery brings the terror to life: readers will hear the “wet gurgle” and see the “blossom of brownish red” liquid spreading out. Killer opening lines such as “It was the blood that changed everything” make the twisted and ominous worlds inviting.”
Booklife
"These are more than horror stories; these are little word grenades that roll quietly into the closet of your mind… only to explode later! I may never forget the last lines of “A Candle For The Birthday Boy,” perhaps the perfect closer to this incendiary collection. Read at your own risk."
John Everson, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Five Deaths for Seven Songbirds and NightWhere
From award-winning author Christopher Hawkins come thirteen tales of the horrors lurking right next door.
At turns whimsical and somber but always unsettling, this debut collection of short horror stories is essential reading from a rising voice in dark literary fiction.
Release Date: March 15, 2023
(to be followed by debut novel in Sept/Oct, 2023)
Paperback - $16.99 USD
(Standard bookseller discount, fulfilled by Ingram)
227 pages
ISBN: 9781937346126
EBOOK - $6.99 USD
ISBN: 9781937346133
For more information, editorial opportunities, interview requests or review copies please contact: media@coronispublishing.com
"Having been blown away by Christopher Hawkins's stories before, the moment I saw his horror collection I snatched it up immediately. I am so happy I did!"
"I liked how each [story] sort of touched upon something real and deep, in their own way. Definitely enjoyed this read! It was my first time reading this author's work, but won't be the last."
"My favorite story was the one about the cursed kids' show, and scenes from that story now haunt my dreams."
"The pacing is excellent, keeping you engaged from the first paragraph. The stories take you to places you could hardly imagine, and often leave your face twisted in disgust."
"Suburban Monsters is raw and original. Christopher Hawkins expertly uses horror to lift the veil of reality to ask, 'what if...'"
Born and raised near the shores of Lake Michigan, Christopher Hawkins has been writing and telling stories for as long as he can remember. A dyed-in-the-wool geek, he is an avid collector of books, roleplaying games and curiosities. When he's not writing, he spends his time exploring old cemeteries, lurking in museums, and searching for a decent cup of tea.
Christopher is an award-winning author and the former editor of the One Buck Horror anthology series. His works of short fiction have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Cosmic Horror Monthly, Fusion Fragment, Underland Arcana and The Big Book of New Short Horror. He is a member of the Chicago Writers Association and the Chicagoland chapter of the Horror Writers Association.
An expatriate Hoosier, Christopher currently lives in a suburb of Chicago with his wife and two sons.