What Monsters Do

Nicholas Vince brings his background in practical horror effects to a collection of seven tales that blend erudition with brutality. The author is best known for portraying the Chattering Cenobite in Clive Barker’s Hellraiser and its sequel, as well as the crescent moon faced Kinski in Nightbreed. This volume presents six new stories alongside 'The Beast in Beauty,' which originally appeared in Skeleton Crew magazine. The narratives explore dark familial bonds and supernatural dread across various settings. One plot involves a long lost brother making a desperate request, while another examines forbidden love threatening a Victorian family and their loving ghost. Other entries feature Justinian watching snow with his cat, the mystery of Harry’s death, a narrator tied naked among rats, Howard arguing over his son’s cooling body, and Mikey hunting for love while being watched. The book suits readers who appreciate visceral horror and Barker’s influence. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted genre fiction or avoiding parental discretion warnings. Vince uses his experience in creature design to craft stories that feel physically present and unsettling. The collection moves from intimate domestic terror to broader supernatural threats, maintaining a consistent tone of grim charm throughout the pages.