🩸 Horror Fiction

Santa Took Them

✍️ William Malmborg
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$24.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A horror novel about teens vanishing in Holly Brook during a Christmas storm.

The narrative centers on the residents of Holly Brook, Illinois, who are forced to relive their worst nightmare. A terrifying blizzard cuts off the town, mirroring the conditions of a gruesome night from years past. As teenagers begin to disappear one by one, the community realizes that the previous horror was only the beginning. The story explores the intersection of holiday expectations and visceral fear. Malmborg uses the setting of an isolated American town to heighten the sense of vulnerability. The plot does not rely on external saviors but on the internal collapse of safety. Readers will find a focus on the immediate physical danger posed by both the weather and the unknown entity. The tone is serious and unrelenting, avoiding any comedic relief. The structure follows the progression of the storm and the escalating disappearances.

Key Themes
Christmas Eve horror isolated town fear teenager disappearances
Literary Context

This work sits within the tradition of American small-town horror fiction that subverts Christmas folklore. It draws on the cultural expectation of holiday safety to create contrast with the violence described in Holly Brook, Illinois.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Peter Straub · John Ajvide Lindqvist · Joe Hill
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 William Malmborg 📅 2015 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780996283120

📝 Description: Santa Took Them

William Malmborg presents a chilling narrative set in Holly Brook, Illinois, where the shadow of a past Christmas Eve horror looms large. As a severe blizzard isolates the community once again, the peace is shattered by the sudden disappearance of local teenagers. This recurrence suggests that the previous tragedy was merely a prelude to further devastation. The story draws upon traditional holiday folklore, twisting the familiar figure of Santa Claus into a source of terror rather than joy. Malmborg, who also serves as the publisher for this work, constructs a tale that relies on isolation and seasonal dread to build its atmosphere. The narrative focuses on the collective memory of the town and the fresh wave of fear gripping its residents. This book suits readers who enjoy atmospheric horror rooted in small-town settings and subversions of Christmas traditions. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted holiday cheer or complex supernatural lore beyond the immediate threat. The prose remains grounded in the physical reality of the storm and the psychological impact on the characters. Malmborg uses the backdrop of a blizzard to trap his subjects, forcing them to confront the lingering ghosts of Holly Brook. The story unfolds through the lens of repeated trauma and the failure of community safety during the holidays.

💎 Our verdict on Santa Took Them

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Malmborg effectively constructs a chilling atmosphere by trapping characters within a severe blizzard, mirroring the conditions of past tragedies. The narrative excels in exploring the intersection of holiday expectations and visceral fear, utilizing an unrelenting tone to heighten vulnerability. By focusing on the internal collapse of safety rather than external saviors, the story delivers a grounded psychological impact. It suits readers who enjoy small-town horror and subversions of Christmas folklore, though it may disappoint those seeking complex supernatural lore or lighthearted entertainment.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric horror rooted in isolated American settings will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those interested in the psychological impact of recurring trauma and the subversion of familiar holiday traditions. The book offers a serious, unrelenting tone without comedic relief, making it ideal for fans of visceral fear and community collapse. Those seeking lighthearted seasonal cheer should look elsewhere, as the focus remains on immediate physical danger and the failure of safety during the holidays.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Malmborg effectively constructs a chilling atmosphere by trapping characters within a severe blizzard, mirroring the conditions of past tragedies. The narrative excels in exploring the intersection of holiday expectations and visceral fear, utilizing an unrelenting tone to heighten vulnerability. By focusing on the internal collapse of safety rather than external saviors, the story delivers a grounded psychological impact. It suits readers who enjoy small-town horror and subversions of Christmas folklore, though it may disappoint those seeking complex supernatural lore or lighthearted entertainment.

✍️ More books by this author William Malmborg

Till Death Do Us Part
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
Till Death Do Us Part
$7.99
78
Read →
Josiah
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
William Malmborg
Josiah
$14.99
86
Read →
The Girl Who Played With The Ouija Board
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
The Girl Who Played With The Ouija Board
$24.99
78
Read →
The Girl Who Played With The Ouija Board
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
The Girl Who Played With The Ouija Board
$14.99
78
Read →
Daddy's Little Girl
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
Daddy's Little Girl
$14.99
81
Read →
Jimmy
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
Jimmy
$14.99
79
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher William Malmborg

The Girl Who Played With The Ouija Board
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
The Girl Who Played With The Ouija Board
$24.99
78
Read →
Daddy's Little Girl
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
Daddy's Little Girl
$14.99
81
Read →
Blind Eye
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
Blind Eye
$19.99
81
Read →
Jimmy
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
William Malmborg
Jimmy
$14.99
79
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Blind Eye ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
William Malmborg
Blind Eye
$19.99
81
Read →
Daddy's Little Girl ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
William Malmborg
Daddy's Little Girl
$14.99
81
Read →
Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works
$24.99
92
Read →
Dracula (Masterpiece Library Edition) ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Dracula (Masterpiece Library Edition)
$22.99
92
Read →
The Haunting of Hill House -18% ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
4
Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House
$22.00 $27.00
92
Read →
The Death Of Ivan Ilych ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Leo Tolstoy
The Death Of Ivan Ilych
$18.95
92
Read →
Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist