Dusk to Dawn: Reading Horror and Weird Fiction

Discussing Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge Every year for Halloween the citizens of a midwestern town conduct what locals call the Run, challenging a single pumpkin boy to make it from the cornfields to the church before midnight. But there are starving boys waiting to hack him up on the way, desperate to feed on his candy and to fight their way out of this crappy dead-end life. Next Up: Starlet...

Discussing The Devil is an Irishman by Eddie Lenihan If the Devil is no Irishman, he surely deserves to be, as Devil stories far outnumber tales about his opposite. In these four folktales featuring the Old One, readers encounter the various ways the Devil tricks his marks... as well as the ways in which the Irishmen trick him right back. Next Up: Dark Harvest – Norman Partridge Support Us: Buy us...

Discussing Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare An elderly man returns to Rome after a decade of successful campaigning against the Goths, only to refuse the offer of becoming emperor, thereby setting into motion a horrific series of events culminating in a less than pleasant dinner party.  Next Up: The Devil is an Irishman – Eddie Lenihan Support Us: Buy us a coffee! (buymeacoffee.com/dusktoda...

Discussing Off Season by Jack Ketchum Six friends plan a weeklong getaway in the Maine countryside. Things go poorly for them. Next Up: Titus Andronicus – William Shakespeare Support Us: Buy us a coffee! (buymeacoffee.com/dusktodawnpodcast) Purchase Off Season through our affiliate link at (bookshop.org/shop/dusktodawnpodcast) Get your copy of The Veil ! (niyyahwriting.com/the-veil) Find Us: Dusk...

Discussing The Lamb by Lucy Rose A young girl and her mother eat stray humans in this folk horror coming of age cannibalism story depicting a mother’s undying love… for meat. During a snowstorm, the stray Eden arrives at their rustic cottage, but this is no paradise in disguise. As the family dynamic shifts with her arrival, will Eden be the catalyst that brings them closer together, or will her i...

We did it! A summer update. Season 3 starts September 1st. We discuss summer reading, travel, meeting Frankenstein, and what to expect in Season 3. Join us as we post a new episode every two weeks! Next Up: The Season 3 feast begins with a month of cannibalism starting September 1. The Lamb – Lucy Rose Off Season – Jack Ketchum Titus Andronicus – William Shakespeare Books Mentioned in this Episode...

Discussing A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay When tweenager Margerie Berrett starts puking up black bile, crawling up the walls, and leaving scary messages for her little sister Meredith, her parents rake in wads of cash by inviting a TV crew into their home to film all the crazy shit happening inside. But is Merry’s older sister actually possessed, or is she just nuts? Next Up: Summer break!...

Discussing Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson There’s a black goat in a box on the TV. Misbehave and it will come out and eat you! Or will it? Join us as we discuss this awesome Irish horror book in celebration of Bloomsday. Next Up: A Head Full of Ghosts – Paul Tremblay Summer break! Books Mentioned in this Episode: Ulysses  – The Man of the Hour: James Joyce When the Sparrow Falls – Neil Sh...

Discussing Little Heaven by Nick Cutter Three Mercenaries walk into the desert and find God in Little Heaven, a religious settlement in the New Mexico backwoods near a towering black rock which is a huge red flag that everyone ignores, guided by their admired Amus Flesher, the nefarious pastor inspired by Jim Jones of the Peoples temple cult, who is, big surprise, in cahoots with something siniste...

Discussing The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling The castle of Aymar is under siege and with only 15 days of provisions left, the inhabitants will soon starve. It appears that all is lost until the four saints arrive: The Constant Lady, The Warding Saint, The Loving Saint, and The Absolving Saint, bearing a cornucopia of food. But at what cost?  Next Up: Little Heaven – Nick Cutter Knock Knock,...

Discussing Piñata by Leopoldo Gout A little girl takes a piñata from the ancient ruins of a church in Mexico. It is a very bad idea and when she takes it back home to new York with her family, things begin to spiral out of control. As a possession takes hold, grasshoppers jump scare the Sanchez family and swarms of butterflies smash like hail against the windows. Will they be consumed by their ven...

Discussing American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis Patrick Bateman is the ideal man. He’s rich, he’s attractive, and he can afford to eat at luxury restaurants for every single meal. He has impeccable taste in menswear and a refined ear for music. Unfortunately, he is also a psychopath, and his friends suck. Next Up: Piñata – Leopoldo Gout The Starving Saints – Caitlin Starling Little Heaven – Nick C...

Discussing Psycho by Robert Bloch Mary Crane is on the run after stealing $40,000 in cash from her employer. Driving late into the night in the pouring rain, she decides to stop for the night at the Bates Motel, run by middle-aged bachelor Norman Bates who lives with his mother in their house behind the motel. Or does he? Next Up: American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis Piñata – Leopoldo Gout The Star...

Discussing Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito Winifred Notty becomes the new governess for the Pounds family at the prestigious Ensor House in Victorian England. She is crazy and things go poorly for the family. Next Up: Pyscho – Robert Bloch American Pyscho – Bret Easton Ellis Piñata – Leopoldo Gout Books Mentioned in this Episode: Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Writt...

Discussing The Watchers by A.M. Shine A group of strangers get stranded in a heavily wooded area in the west of Ireland. Things in the night watch them through the glass.  Next Up: Victorian Psycho – Virginia Feito Pyscho – Robert Bloch American Pyscho – Bret Easton Ellis Books Mentioned in this Episode: Where I End – Sophie White Starling House – Alix E. Harrow Rosemary’s Baby – Ira Levin March 1...

Discussing You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White Festering masses of worms and flies have taken root in dark corners across Appalachia. In exchange for unwavering loyalty and fresh corpses, these hives offer a few struggling humans salvation.  Crane is grateful for it. Among his hive’s followers, he has found a chance to transition, to never speak again, to live a life that won...

Discussing The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle New York bluesman Charles Thomas Tester gets caught up in the arcane while hustling wealthy white people to help support his father. But when he delivers an occult tome to a reclusive sorceress in the heart of Queens, Tommy Tester opens a door to a deeper realm of magic and earns the attention of things best left sleeping. Next Up: You Weren&apo...

Discussing A Natural History of Hell by Jeffrey Ford Exorcism is in vogue. A witch with a 300-pound smoking pig sells an ointment that makes people feel just right. A man rides in a rocket ship and lives to write about it and other stories in this baker's dozen of weird tales mixing humor, satire, and horror in a genre-bending delight! Next Up: The Ballad of Black Tom – Victor LaValle You Wer...

Discussing The Devil By Name by Keith Rosson It's 5 years later. Things have gotten much worse. Next Up: A Natural History of Hell – Jeffrey Ford The Ballad of Black Tom – Victor LaValle You Weren't Meant to Be Human – Andrew Joseph White Books Mentioned in this Episode: The Stand – Stephen King Yeehaw Junction – Kayli Scholz The Fisherman – John Langan The Book of the New Sun – Gene Wol...

Discussing Fever House by Keith Rosson A dismembered hand makes people go super crazy and it’s really bad if someone dies around it. Next Up: The Devil By Name – Keith Rosson A Natural History of Hell – Jeffrey Ford The Ballad of Black Tom – Victor LaValle Books Mentioned in this Episode: We Sold Our Souls – Grady Hendrix Thorn City – Pamela Statz Find Us: Dusk to Dawn Linktree Instagram: dusk.to....

Discussing Krampus: The Yule Lord by Gerald Brom Mean old Krampus escapes centuries of imprisonment and returns to bring Yuletide cheer and birch tree whacks to the children of the modern world. Also he hates Santa Claus. Ho ho ho! Next Up: Fever House – Keith Rosson The Devil By Name – Keith Rosson A Natural History of Hell – Jeffrey Ford Books Mentioned in this Episode: Nibelungenlied The Saga o...

Discussing Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley Bad parents treat their daughters poorly resulting in the creation of a Christmas killer in this cozy cabin slasher. Next Up: Krampus: The Yule Lord – Gerald Brom Fever House – Keith Rosson The Devil By Name – Keith Rosson Books Mentioned in this Episode: Candy Cain Kills Again; Breathe In, Bleed Out – Brian McAuley 11/22/63 – Stephen King Crave: Extrem...

Discussing North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud This debut short story collection features nine tales of down and out ex-cons, single parents, unemployed laborers, and other desperate characters living on the margins of society, encountering horrors both human and supernatural. Next Up: Candy Cain Kills – Brian McAuley Krampus: The Yule Lord – Gerald Brom Fever House – Keith Rosson Bo...

Discussing Frankenstein by Mary Shelley An asshole scientist channels his energy into bringing the dead back to life which he abhors the moment the experiment succeeds. People suffer and die and Victor feels little to no remorse over the whole thing. Meanwhile, the creature just wants to do people’s chores in exchange for not being hated on sight. Next Up: North American Lake Monsters – Nathan Bal...

Discussing Yeehaw Junction by Kayli Scholz When a family of thieves and runaways joins the search for a missing girl in rural Florida, they’re drawn into a chemical conspiracy that extends far beyond their worst nightmares. Join us in this special bonus episode talking about a very weird, very Florida book! Next Up: Frankenstein – Mary Shelley North American Lake Monsters – Nathan Ballingrud Candy...