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A Growing Need to Die: And Other Modern Nightmares 3.5/5

Unusual stories that defy explanation.

I knew nothing about this book going in, outside of the fact it was horror, and that it was a collection of short stories. That about sums this up: A collection of 21 creepy and fascinating stories that will send shivers running down your spine.

For the fans of John Saul and Christopher Pike, those who like weird and wild, this anthology is sure to get your attention!

Spoilers are almost necessary.

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A Growing Need to Die: And Other Modern Nightmares by Kyle Harrison

Publications date: March 2021
Pages: 216
Genre: Fiction, Horror, Horror Short Stories
Part of: Never Sleep Again: Best Creepy Tales

Pulled from Amazon: Do you believe in ghosts? You will. This collection of the best stories from award-winning NoSleep horror author Kyle Harrison will have you questioning your sanity while you keep the light on reading page after page. 

Overall: Three and a Half Stars!

Needs a little work but.. there are some really intriguing ideas here.

Now, reviewing 21 stories(even short ones) is a bit much for me at present but.. I have included mini reviews and ratings for the first four.

I hope you enjoy!


The Newborn

An exhausted couple have tried and failed to produce a child too many times. He’s helpless, watching her suffer, and goes looking for any solution. She’s no longer able to handle another devastating miscarriage and is willing to try anything.. Do anything. He thought he was, too, but some things should be left to God. The ‘birth’ depletes what little life his wife had left, but they have finally succeeded in generating a living ‘child’, an inhuman child created from their love and desperation.

The lengths people will go through to achieve their deepest desires.. and the dark consequences.

“The way he described it sounded perfectly safe, but inside my mind, a few alarms were going off. This just didn’t feel right. It was unnatural to play God like this.”

The Newborn

The Widow’s Walkway

A lone reporter investigates the strange and inexplicable tales of paranormal events across the country and gets more than he bargained for. When hunting down the truth of the myth behind “Crybaby Bridges,” a reporter slowly gets pulled into the stories of witnesses and the history of the young woman believed to be the spirit, herself. It’s not until his own disturbing experience with the bridge and it’s evil that he realizes his mistake.. but it’s far too late to turn back.

Interesting and gripping.

(These stories appear to only get darker as you go.)

“A crybaby bridge, according to the internet, is a haunted structure where spirits linger and torment anyone who dares to trespass.”

The Widow’s Walkway

I’m Glad I Killed Myself Last Night

In a dark place, a hopeless man makes the decision to end his own life.. and does. Strangely enough.. he wakes up the next morning completely fine. It shouldn’t be possible, a bullet is missing from his gun, and pictures prove he shot himself in the head. When his own reflection confesses to somehow orchestrating his return, Michael strikes out at himself in fear, releasing the other version into our reality. The resulting circumstances give Michael a chance to start over, in a new life, on the other side of the mirror.

I have a thing about mirrors so.. this one had me double-checking reflections all night.

“The only reason I knew for sure that something definitely did happen last night is because I checked my gun and there’s a bullet missing.”

I’m Glad I Killed Myself Last Night

A Growing Need to Die

An immortal woman obsessed with ending her long life puts an ad on the dark web for assistance in ending things. After many creative and failed attempts, she has given up hope for death, and her killer has fallen deeply in love with this unusual woman.
They marry and have a child, but the woman’s desperate need to die becomes increasingly more consuming, and puts her husband and son in danger. When the man uncovers an obscure ritual that may just be the answer.. Will she finally find peace?

A haunting perspective on how immortality might not be all it’s cracked up to be.

(I will say.. this was one of my favorites.)

“I fell in love with Margo the first time I killed her.”

A Growing Need to Die

Now, I haven’t come close to touching on all that there is to this book, there are many more dark and disturbing tales to dip your toes into. I do recommend this for anyone who enjoys the weird and the ‘what?’ You will definitely find that here!

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