🩸 Horror Fiction

A tale of terror on Halloween

✍️ Kelly Maida
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$6.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A mystery novel about a man jailed for Halloween murders whose only witness disappears.

Fred Riley sits in jail accused of killing people on Halloween. The police lack proof to keep him there because the one person who saw him do it is gone. His girlfriend insists he did not commit these acts. This absence raises the fear that a real murderer remains active. The story examines how quickly a case can collapse without witness support. It highlights the anxiety of waiting for justice while danger persists. Maida uses the holiday setting to amplify the sense of dread surrounding the trial and the potential release of a predator.

Key Themes
Halloween murders Fred Riley missing witness
Literary Context

This work engages with Halloween traditions, using the holiday’s reputation for fear and supernatural events as a backdrop for its criminal mystery. It sits within the genre of horror fiction that blends real-world crime with the eerie atmosphere typical of gothic storytelling.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Dean Koontz · Richard Laymon
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2020 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781080027361

📝 Description: A tale of terror on Halloween

Kelly Maida presents a narrative centered on a series of Halloween murders that implicate a man named Fred Riley. The plot hinges on the disappearance of the sole witness who previously secured Riley’s incarceration. His girlfriend maintains his innocence, creating a tension between her claims and the evidence against him. Readers follow the investigation as authorities question whether the correct individual is behind bars or if a dangerous serial killer is about to walk free. The story draws on the atmosphere of Halloween traditions to frame its suspense. Maida structures the tale around this central mystery, focusing on the legal and personal stakes involved in keeping Riley detained. The narrative explores the fragility of justice when key testimony vanishes. It suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction and gothic tales where the line between guilt and innocence blurs under the pressure of a looming holiday. Those seeking lighthearted seasonal stories may find the tone too intense. The book relies on the inherent dread associated with Halloween rather than historical exposition. Maida’s approach keeps the focus tight on the immediate threat and the psychological weight placed on Riley’s loved ones.

💎 Our verdict on A tale of terror on Halloween

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Maida effectively utilizes the Halloween atmosphere to heighten the suspense surrounding a wrongful imprisonment mystery. The narrative succeeds in building tension through the disappearance of the sole witness, leaving authorities and loved ones in limbo. This approach creates a palpable sense of dread regarding the potential release of a dangerous killer. The book is best suited for readers who prefer psychological horror and legal thrillers over supernatural exposition. It avoids historical digressions to maintain focus on the immediate stakes. The tone remains intense, catering to those who enjoy stories where justice hangs in the balance during a spooky season.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy psychological horror and suspenseful mysteries will find this book compelling. It offers a tense exploration of justice collapsing without witness support, creating anxiety about the freedom of a potential predator. The Halloween setting amplifies the dread, appealing to those who like atmospheric thrillers where guilt and innocence blur. It is ideal for fans of stories that examine the fragility of legal systems under pressure. Those seeking intense, holiday-themed suspense rather than lighthearted seasonal tales will appreciate the focus on immediate threat and psychological weight.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Maida effectively utilizes the Halloween atmosphere to heighten the suspense surrounding a wrongful imprisonment mystery. The narrative succeeds in building tension through the disappearance of the sole witness, leaving authorities and loved ones in limbo. This approach creates a palpable sense of dread regarding the potential release of a dangerous killer. The book is best suited for readers who prefer psychological horror and legal thrillers over supernatural exposition. It avoids historical digressions to maintain focus on the immediate stakes. The tone remains intense, catering to those who enjoy stories where justice hangs in the balance during a spooky season.

🏛 Books from this publisher Independently Published

The Walking Worm
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Cowdery
The Walking Worm
$12.99
78
Read →
You'll Do As You're Told
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Craig Wesley Wall
You'll Do As You're Told
$14.99
78
Read →
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jon Ridan
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
$11.99
78
Read →
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Syl Emerald
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
$19.00
81
Read →
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Shane Terry
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
$17.32
78
Read →
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Nick Razer
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
$15.99
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
A Collection of Shocks and Terrors: Set IX: Divine Love and Terror ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Albert Oon
A Collection of Shocks and Terrors: Set IX: Divine Love and Terror
$6.99
86
Read →
Abaddon y otros cuentos siniestros ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Javier Garrido B
Abaddon y otros cuentos siniestros
$6.99
86
Read →
Impermanence of things: A Collection of short stories ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Mark Ryan
Impermanence of things: A Collection of short stories
$6.99
86
Read →
Unseen Horrors: Tales from the Darkest Corners ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
R Smith
Unseen Horrors: Tales from the Darkest Corners
$6.99
86
Read →
The Quiet That Walks: Season Two The Choir Grows ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Stephanie Marcum
The Quiet That Walks: Season Two The Choir Grows
$6.99
86
Read →
The Train Man ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Broxine Adair Threnody
The Train Man
$6.99
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist