🩸 Horror Fiction

F0mo

✍️ Matthew John Benecke
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$5.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A craft beer enthusiast confronts a doppelganger and supernatural mystery.

Greg Smith, a collector obsessed with rare brews, finds his world upended by an encounter with his double. This event coincides with rumors of a secret tasting at a Naval Base that others deny. The narrative focuses on the implications of a unique barrel-aged sour called FOMO. Benecke uses the lens of classic television horror to explore themes of identity and isolation. The book does not offer solutions but rather deepens the mystery surrounding the protagonist's life.

Key Themes
craft beer culture doppelganger encounters supernatural mystery
Literary Context

The work sits within the tradition of mid-twentieth-century American television horror anthologies. It references specific shows like The Twilight Zone and Tales From the Crypt to establish its tonal framework. The setting utilizes contemporary craft beer trends to ground the supernatural elements in a recognizable, modern reality.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Rod Serling · Richard Matheson · Shirley Jackson · The Twilight Zone
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2017 📖 32 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781546589105

📝 Description: F0mo

Matthew John Benecke presents a narrative where craft beer culture intersects with supernatural horror. The story follows Greg Smith, a dedicated enthusiast who chases rare bottle releases rather than consuming them. His routine shifts when he encounters a man who mirrors his own appearance at an anniversary event. This doppelganger appears alongside questions regarding a strange tasting held at a Naval Base, an occurrence that remains unknown to others. The plot centers on a specific barrel-aged sour named FOMO, which Greg samples during this mysterious gathering. Benecke structures the tale to evoke the atmospheric dread found in classic anthology series such as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Tales From the Crypt. The author draws upon the tradition of mid-twentieth-century speculative fiction to frame his modern setting. This approach appeals to readers who enjoy genre blending that mixes contemporary hobbies with eerie, unexplained phenomena. Those seeking straightforward beer reviews or historical nonfiction will find this work unsuitable. The narrative prioritizes psychological unraveling and supernatural mystery over technical brewing details. Greg’s investigation into the Naval Base event drives the tension forward. The single available beer at that location becomes a focal point for uncovering hidden truths. The story concludes with Greg continuing his struggle to understand the reality behind these strange occurrences.

💎 Our verdict on F0mo

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Benecke effectively merges the mundane world of rare beer collecting with the existential terror of the doppelganger trope. By framing the narrative through the lens of classic television horror, he creates a distinct atmosphere of dread that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The focus on psychological unraveling over technical brewing details ensures the story remains accessible to non-experts while satisfying those who enjoy speculative fiction. The use of a specific barrel-aged sour as a focal point for hidden truths adds a layer of intrigue without becoming overly dense. This approach suits readers who favor mood and implication over plot resolution, offering a haunting reflection on identity and isolation.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the intersection of niche hobbies and supernatural mystery will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those who enjoy genre-blending stories where modern obsessions, such as craft beer collecting, serve as the catalyst for eerie, unexplained phenomena. The book is ideal for enthusiasts of psychological unraveling who prefer atmosphere over resolution. Those fascinated by the implications of identity, isolation, and doppelgangers will engage with Greg Smith’s investigation. It offers a unique lens through which to view classic horror tropes using contemporary cultural touchstones, providing a deepened mystery rather than straightforward answers. This makes it suitable for readers seeking an unsettling exploration of self within a familiar yet distorted reality.

⭐ 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

Benecke effectively merges the mundane world of rare beer collecting with the existential terror of the doppelganger trope. By framing the narrative through the lens of classic television horror, he creates a distinct atmosphere of dread that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The focus on psychological unraveling over technical brewing details ensures the story remains accessible to non-experts while satisfying those who enjoy speculative fiction. The use of a specific barrel-aged sour as a focal point for hidden truths adds a layer of intrigue without becoming overly dense. This approach suits readers who favor mood and implication over plot resolution, offering a haunting reflection on identity and isolation.

✍️ More books by this author Matthew John Benecke

The Walking Ghosts
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew John Benecke
The Walking Ghosts
$14.99
78
Read →
The Lion In The Desert
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew John Benecke
The Lion In The Desert
$12.99
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Memento Mori
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Paul Holbrook
Memento Mori
$13.94
78
Read →
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Quinton Veal
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
$12.00
78
Read →
The Manitou
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jessie Cox
The Manitou
$10.50
78
Read →
The Phantom of the Opera
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Alexander Teixeira De Mattos
The Phantom of the Opera
$17.00
81
Read →
The Trial
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wyllie
The Trial
$10.25
81
Read →
Prey Until Dawn
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Daryn Guarino
Prey Until Dawn
$50.00
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
The Lion In The Desert ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Matthew John Benecke
The Lion In The Desert
$12.99
78
Read →
The Walking Ghosts ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Matthew John Benecke
The Walking Ghosts
$14.99
78
Read →
Choice and Consequence: Present and Past Nightmares ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Albert Oon
Choice and Consequence: Present and Past Nightmares
$5.99
86
Read →
The Damned Thing ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ambrose Bierce
The Damned Thing
$5.99
86
Read →
The Willows ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Algernon Blackwood
The Willows
$5.99
86
Read →
The Viy ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Nikolai Gogol
The Viy
$5.99
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