With the exception of two stories, overall things are relatively tame for a Horror Book. However, there are places where it can be a little icky or gross. The psychological elements of thriller can be a bit of a trigger (monsters, supernatural) but Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis is best for mature teens and adults so do not let sensitive readers get their hands on it.
Oddly enough, despite (or because and I am getting really odd in my old age) this being a horror story collection, I very much enjoyed it. Sure, the really gross out stories were really gross out (I do not know how Ellis knew of my semi-phobia of skin and um… it not staying in place on the body) but still the writing is clever, unique, interesting. Stories do hit on the physiological aspects of horror, which is probably why I was more drawn to things. I am not a fan of gory for goriness; I do not like icky for icky to shock. That is not to say there are not icky situations but there is more than that.
The illustrations also add to the spooky factor, but are deceptively cozy, sweet even. Bright colors, minimal to as needed details, the roundness of things make people and even monsters almost friendly looking (almost there are those teeth afterall….). The last story is even a perfect way of ending the collection. Up to that point stories were fairly obvious, a few twists but not as many turns as you might expect, but still thrilling. That ending story was such a psychological “gottcha!” that I am now looking forward to the companion collection, Let Me in Your Window (which I purchased thinking it was a mystery even though afterwards I looked and saw the word “horror” in the title. Hey! It was autographed! One of my book kryptonites).
