Trickery of a Corpse

Name: Trickery of a Corpse
Price: 5.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781976721625

✍️ Kevin Millikin

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$5.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A cleaner confronts a restless corpse that defies death's finality.

The narrative centers on Dayton Greene, a man who despises his job cleaning up after suicides and homicides. He works alongside his brother and sister-in-law, witnessing the brutal physical details of death daily. This routine fuels his deep self-loathing and sense of hopelessness. The plot turns when he faces a corpse that refuses to remain at rest. This entity employs tricks that challenge the boundary between life and death. The story examines how professional exposure to mortality can erode one's spirit. It also explores the sudden loss of stability when supernatural forces intervene. Millikin writes with a focus on the protagonist's internal state rather than external action.

Key Themes

restless corpses professional self-loathing supernatural intervention

Literary Context

This work sits within the tradition of American independent horror publishing. It draws on the trope of the urban cleanup professional facing the uncanny. The narrative reflects a modern anxiety about career dissatisfaction and existential dread. It connects to gothic themes of death refusing to be ignored.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Thomas Ligotti · Joe Hill · Stephen King · Clive Barker

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2017 📖 122 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781976721625

📝 Description: Trickery of a Corpse

Dayton Greene works in a grim profession that involves cleaning up after people who have ended their own lives or died by homicide. He shares this burden with his brother and sister-in-law. Their work exposes them to the physical realities of death, including heart attacks and hemorrhaging. Dayton feels trapped in a cycle of self-loathing and pity regarding his career and his life. He despises the job and the existence it demands. The narrative shifts when Dayton encounters a corpse that refuses to stay buried. This entity possesses tricks that defy the natural order. The story explores the horror of losing everything one holds dear through supernatural means. Kevin Millikin, the author, presents this tale without resorting to sensationalism. He focuses on the psychological toll of his protagonist's daily routine. This book suits readers who enjoy grounded supernatural fiction that examines the aftermath of violent death. It appeals to those interested in the gritty reality of cleanup crews and the uncanny. Readers seeking lighthearted horror or complex mystery plots may find the tone too bleak. The story does not offer easy resolutions or comforting endings.

💎 Our verdict on Trickery of a Corpse

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Millikin presents a stark exploration of professional burnout intertwined with supernatural intrusion. By focusing on Dayton Greene’s internal state rather than external action, the author crafts a narrative that feels intimately unsettling. The depiction of the cleanup crew’s daily exposure to death provides a unique, gritty backdrop for the horror. The corpse’s tricks challenge the boundary between life and death effectively, creating a sense of pervasive unease. This book suits readers who enjoy psychological horror and the uncanny aspects of violent death aftermaths. It avoids sensationalism, opting instead for a bleak examination of hopelessness. Fans of slow-burn, character-focused horror will find this work particularly engaging due to its commitment to tone over plot complexity.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This book is recommended for readers who appreciate horror that prioritizes psychological depth over visceral gore. Those interested in the gritty, unglamorous reality of death cleanup crews will find a compelling mirror in Dayton Greene’s internal struggle. The narrative appeals to fans of grounded supernatural fiction who enjoy exploring how professional exposure to mortality can erode one's spirit. Readers seeking a bleak, uncompromising tone without easy resolutions or comforting endings will find this tale resonant. It offers an examination of self-loathing and the sudden loss of stability when supernatural forces intervene in a mundane life, making it ideal for those who prefer atmospheric dread and character-driven horror over action-heavy plots.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Millikin presents a stark exploration of professional burnout intertwined with supernatural intrusion. By focusing on Dayton Greene’s internal state rather than external action, the author crafts a narrative that feels intimately unsettling. The depiction of the cleanup crew’s daily exposure to death provides a unique, gritty backdrop for the horror. The corpse’s tricks challenge the boundary between life and death effectively, creating a sense of pervasive unease. This book suits readers who enjoy psychological horror and the uncanny aspects of violent death aftermaths. It avoids sensationalism, opting instead for a bleak examination of hopelessness. Fans of slow-burn, character-focused horror will find this work particularly engaging due to its commitment to tone over plot complexity.