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Pay The Ghost
NOW A MOVIE STARRING NICOLAS CAGE.
A girl goes missing ... the father gives up hope ... but the mother never stops searching. Now, a year later and close to Hallowe'en, they have a chance to rescue their child. But to do so they must face something terrible.
A girl goes missing ... the father gives up hope ... but the mother never stops searching. Now, a year later and close to Hallowe'en, they have a chance to rescue their child. But to do so they must face something terrible.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2015
About the author
Tim Lebbon
265 books1,432 followersI love writing, reading, triathlon, real ale, chocolate, good movies, occasional bad movies, and cake.
I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.
I love the countryside ... I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.
I've had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I've been writing as a living for over 8 years. I've won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I've also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.
A movie's just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.
I'd love to hear from you!
I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.
I love the countryside ... I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.
I've had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I've been writing as a living for over 8 years. I've won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I've also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.
A movie's just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.
I'd love to hear from you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 30, 2017
Slap me around the face with a wet fish! How this author crammed so much telling into this story is like a clever magical trick! To know this is now a movie starring Nicholas Cage makes me super excited, I will not be missing that one.
Moll was taken on Halloween. She is only 6 years old. Her Father remembers her saying "will you pay the ghost" but had no clue what she meant then or now. When you find out what she meant it will send a shiver up your spine. It's now a year later and all hope was tossed aside that he would ever see his beloved Moll again until...
That's where I'll stop on the plot. Being a short and so good you'll hopefully read this one to discover it yourself. The author is a talent! The writing is really good and some sentences and paragraphs just blew me away, the imagery being created in my mind was astonishing.
This is creepy, dark and chilling. You just know it's going to get more creepy as it goes on and towards the end of the book I was reading at one heck of a pace. There are some scenes that are descriptively disturbing and as the book regurgitates the twist and it's secret you will be glued to the pages.
I totally loved this short and am keen to read more from this author that I had not heard of. The movie should be brilliant! 5 well awarded stars for this one without a doubt. It will appeal to lovers of darker plots, ghostly happenings, mild horror but honestly? I think a lot of readers would like it, so pop it on your to-read list.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
Moll was taken on Halloween. She is only 6 years old. Her Father remembers her saying "will you pay the ghost" but had no clue what she meant then or now. When you find out what she meant it will send a shiver up your spine. It's now a year later and all hope was tossed aside that he would ever see his beloved Moll again until...
That's where I'll stop on the plot. Being a short and so good you'll hopefully read this one to discover it yourself. The author is a talent! The writing is really good and some sentences and paragraphs just blew me away, the imagery being created in my mind was astonishing.
This is creepy, dark and chilling. You just know it's going to get more creepy as it goes on and towards the end of the book I was reading at one heck of a pace. There are some scenes that are descriptively disturbing and as the book regurgitates the twist and it's secret you will be glued to the pages.
I totally loved this short and am keen to read more from this author that I had not heard of. The movie should be brilliant! 5 well awarded stars for this one without a doubt. It will appeal to lovers of darker plots, ghostly happenings, mild horror but honestly? I think a lot of readers would like it, so pop it on your to-read list.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
March 5, 2020
Lee's daughter Moll was kidnapped on Halloween Eve. Now one year has gone and he and Kate, his wife, are still desperately looking for their daughter. What about that out-of-the way house Kate has discovered? What about the pit of children and the shadow character? This book has some fine eerie elements and clearly shows the situation of a family with a missing person. But before I read this book I watched the movie adaption of Pay The Ghost. To be honest, I liked the movie with its shocking element and background story (the woman accused as witch and burning at the stake with her three children) more than the literary source. to me it was much more compelling and explained things in a better way. Maybe worth a look if you have watched the movie!
March 27, 2020
Short and sweet
This read like a crazed nightmare. It's short and straight to the scary action. Now I really want to see the movie!
This read like a crazed nightmare. It's short and straight to the scary action. Now I really want to see the movie!
September 14, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pretty good horror tying the real-life terror of losing a child and the terror of a malevolent spirit. (I only wish I hadn't read that Nicholas Cage played the lead role in the movie version of this short story.)
Pretty good horror tying the real-life terror of losing a child and the terror of a malevolent spirit. (I only wish I hadn't read that Nicholas Cage played the lead role in the movie version of this short story.)
July 2, 2016
i like the story, pure and raw, but mystic and twisted as well, so what more a nice horror story needs to prove?
btw, i like the film more because of nicholas cage
btw, i like the film more because of nicholas cage
March 17, 2020
Tim Lebbon is another author who stepped up and offered up some of their back catalog for free to let people enjoy some books and not stress on depleting their bank accounts. I believe I snagged eight(!!) books from him yesterday, but I’ll be sure to buy some of his books here soon as a thanks. I’ve previously read ‘The Silence’ and ‘Eden’ but this one is a very different creature.
What I liked: This story is grief and loss of hope to the extreme. “I lost my little girl on Hallowe’en,” opens this story and from there we see how crippling Moll’s disappearance is. As often happens, husband and wife struggle, they then separate. It’s from this point that Lebbon decides to really crush us with how life takes its twists and turns. This one had some visceral moments that will most likely leave you in tears.
What I didn’t like: The ending felt a bit rushed and I would’ve loved maybe another 100-200 words on what happened from the final moments. This one was written specifically for an anthology originally, so there may have been space limitations, but otherwise this one will stay with you for many moons.
Why you should buy it: once again – FREE. But also, Tim is a stand up guy and super nice. He’s even been kind enough in the past to let me interview him for my day job. I’ve got Coldbrook already from him as one I’ve purchased, but I’ll be snagging a few more for sure.
This one is just stunning with how dark it gets and the setting the characters end up in is just fantastic.
Side – note – I don’t actually know if I’ve watched the movie of this. It stars Nicholas Cage and there was a period where I watched A LOT of movies. I feel like I have, but honestly can’t say positively.
What I liked: This story is grief and loss of hope to the extreme. “I lost my little girl on Hallowe’en,” opens this story and from there we see how crippling Moll’s disappearance is. As often happens, husband and wife struggle, they then separate. It’s from this point that Lebbon decides to really crush us with how life takes its twists and turns. This one had some visceral moments that will most likely leave you in tears.
What I didn’t like: The ending felt a bit rushed and I would’ve loved maybe another 100-200 words on what happened from the final moments. This one was written specifically for an anthology originally, so there may have been space limitations, but otherwise this one will stay with you for many moons.
Why you should buy it: once again – FREE. But also, Tim is a stand up guy and super nice. He’s even been kind enough in the past to let me interview him for my day job. I’ve got Coldbrook already from him as one I’ve purchased, but I’ll be snagging a few more for sure.
This one is just stunning with how dark it gets and the setting the characters end up in is just fantastic.
Side – note – I don’t actually know if I’ve watched the movie of this. It stars Nicholas Cage and there was a period where I watched A LOT of movies. I feel like I have, but honestly can’t say positively.
July 17, 2016
Review of PAY THE GHOST by Tim Lebbon
A short story of extreme horror, which is also extremely sad. Seems like there are no winners in this one (except perhaps the titular ghost).The faint of heart will not enjoy this one. However, in the hands of an author I consider a master of horror, the characters are so finely delineated, the horrors so imaginative, the setting so vivid, that this is a tale well worth the perusal [Just not at night and not alone.]
A short story of extreme horror, which is also extremely sad. Seems like there are no winners in this one (except perhaps the titular ghost).The faint of heart will not enjoy this one. However, in the hands of an author I consider a master of horror, the characters are so finely delineated, the horrors so imaginative, the setting so vivid, that this is a tale well worth the perusal [Just not at night and not alone.]
July 21, 2016
Creepy short story. I watched the movie and was mostly unimpressed but thought it might work better as a book. I wasn't surprised to find it started as one but a bit surprised it was a novella. I think it could have easily been made longer and that might have bumped up my rating. Nevertheless, it's a quick and disturbing read that I enjoyed.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Endeaver Press in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Endeaver Press in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2021
The horror is losing a child
Great spooky short story about the total nightmare of losing a child and the lengths that parents will go to in order to find their child again.
I loved the sparse set up - what more needs to be said? - and the genuinely creepy denouement.
Enjoyed the movie adaptation but the short story is much better.
Great spooky short story about the total nightmare of losing a child and the lengths that parents will go to in order to find their child again.
I loved the sparse set up - what more needs to be said? - and the genuinely creepy denouement.
Enjoyed the movie adaptation but the short story is much better.
March 25, 2020
“Daddy, can we pay the ghost?”
Halloween isn’t a day Lee will be fond of after what he’s been through. This short story by Tim Lebbon is filled to the brim with emotion, pain, despair and sprinkled with hope. All the levels of grief are conveyed. A family is torn apart with the loss of a child and no answers.
We are immediately pulled into Lee’s pain as he slowly deteriorates physically and mentally with the loss of his daughter, Moll. His wife, Kate, left him to grieve alone since she blamed him for what happened and searched for Moll. He becomes a hallow shell of a man that lost everything without closure and it was eating away at him as to what, where, when and how anything happened to Moll.
The character development of both parents were displayed by how they grieved differently. Lee mourned while trying move on and live. Kate gave her life searching for answers. She never gave up hope finding their daughter to the point that she became unrecognizable by withering down to skin and bones. In her fragile state, Kate also expresses strength and selflessness because she blamed Lee but was able to let the feelings go and plead for his help when she learns of the thing that took their daughter. Both personalities and coping mechanisms were completely relatable. In their search for Moll, Lee and Kate support each other every step they take together into the darkness. They learn the horrific reality of what took their daughter and that with life comes death to save what you love.
This short story is a twist of horror, grief and hope but more about Kate’s time after the breakup of as needed. I wanted more information about her search, where she’s been, how it led her to the house and understanding of what lies there. It felt lacking when Lee became involved. I’ve never seen the movie adaptation of this story but now I’m intrigued to do so.
Halloween isn’t a day Lee will be fond of after what he’s been through. This short story by Tim Lebbon is filled to the brim with emotion, pain, despair and sprinkled with hope. All the levels of grief are conveyed. A family is torn apart with the loss of a child and no answers.
We are immediately pulled into Lee’s pain as he slowly deteriorates physically and mentally with the loss of his daughter, Moll. His wife, Kate, left him to grieve alone since she blamed him for what happened and searched for Moll. He becomes a hallow shell of a man that lost everything without closure and it was eating away at him as to what, where, when and how anything happened to Moll.
The character development of both parents were displayed by how they grieved differently. Lee mourned while trying move on and live. Kate gave her life searching for answers. She never gave up hope finding their daughter to the point that she became unrecognizable by withering down to skin and bones. In her fragile state, Kate also expresses strength and selflessness because she blamed Lee but was able to let the feelings go and plead for his help when she learns of the thing that took their daughter. Both personalities and coping mechanisms were completely relatable. In their search for Moll, Lee and Kate support each other every step they take together into the darkness. They learn the horrific reality of what took their daughter and that with life comes death to save what you love.
This short story is a twist of horror, grief and hope but more about Kate’s time after the breakup of as needed. I wanted more information about her search, where she’s been, how it led her to the house and understanding of what lies there. It felt lacking when Lee became involved. I’ve never seen the movie adaptation of this story but now I’m intrigued to do so.
January 28, 2016
This is a short story of the abduction of a child at the age of 6 on Halloween and is a harrowing tale of the effect of this on her parents and a frightening revaluation of what has happened to the child in the year she has been missing.
This is a well written ad engaging story which is indeed very dark and austere, foreboding from page one and not letting up for a minute. I ate this up and it was a refreshing reprieve from the hordes of romantic fantasy books I've read recently with their happy endings (not that I don't love those!)
I would of preferred this to be longer as it did feel like a bit of an abrupt ending and I'd also of liked a bit more of an explanation of what was happening at some times (I'm a bit of a lazy reader liking to be a bit more spoon fed at times)
My one fault would be that it starts by telling us that it has been adapted into a film with Nicolas Cage playing the Dad, this led me to casting the dad in my head and as an obvious result of this I couldn't take him very serious therefore resulting in a 4 instead of 5 star review.
This is a well written ad engaging story which is indeed very dark and austere, foreboding from page one and not letting up for a minute. I ate this up and it was a refreshing reprieve from the hordes of romantic fantasy books I've read recently with their happy endings (not that I don't love those!)
I would of preferred this to be longer as it did feel like a bit of an abrupt ending and I'd also of liked a bit more of an explanation of what was happening at some times (I'm a bit of a lazy reader liking to be a bit more spoon fed at times)
My one fault would be that it starts by telling us that it has been adapted into a film with Nicolas Cage playing the Dad, this led me to casting the dad in my head and as an obvious result of this I couldn't take him very serious therefore resulting in a 4 instead of 5 star review.
August 6, 2016
'Pay the Ghost' By Tim Lebbon is a short story about grieving parents and what they will do to get his daughter back. The story packs a lot into it's 27 pages.
Little Moll was 6 when she went missing last Halloween. It's now a year later and her father keeps remembering her asking "Will you pay the ghost?" He doesn't know what it means, but he will soon find out as he and his wife go in search of their daughter in some dark and haunted places. Whether they succeed I will leave up to you to find out.
This book was turned into a movie with Nicolas Cage. I didn't see it, but I watched the trailer. It looks like they add a lot that isn't in the book and change Moll to a boy named Charlie. It seems to me the book has a tighter pace just based on the length of the story. Everything you need is in these 27 pages. A father's grief. A missing child. A chilling hunt for answers. I liked it.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Endeavour Press, Venture Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Little Moll was 6 when she went missing last Halloween. It's now a year later and her father keeps remembering her asking "Will you pay the ghost?" He doesn't know what it means, but he will soon find out as he and his wife go in search of their daughter in some dark and haunted places. Whether they succeed I will leave up to you to find out.
This book was turned into a movie with Nicolas Cage. I didn't see it, but I watched the trailer. It looks like they add a lot that isn't in the book and change Moll to a boy named Charlie. It seems to me the book has a tighter pace just based on the length of the story. Everything you need is in these 27 pages. A father's grief. A missing child. A chilling hunt for answers. I liked it.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Endeavour Press, Venture Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
July 20, 2016
ARC for review. Republication.
Someone actually made a movie based on this?
Although it DOES star Nicolas Cage, so perhaps that says everything that needs to be said.
Someone actually made a movie based on this?
Although it DOES star Nicolas Cage, so perhaps that says everything that needs to be said.
November 8, 2020
It was a short story full of terror!!! The terror I felt was in Lee and Kate’s loss of their daughter. Unspeakable!!! But then the supernatural terror took over and it was all out fear goosebumps as Kate’s appearance was described and then the trek to find Moll. A whole lot of fear for me as I walked with Lee and Kate in their search....told in a well written short story!!!
April 27, 2016
I was incredibly disappointed with this novella. There was minimal information throughout making the point of the story confusing, and then the ending was so abrupt that it didn't make any sense. I tried to break it down to understand it. Lee and Kate have a daughter named Moll. Lee takes Moll out for Halloween. Lee loses Moll. Moll has been kidnapped. Lee immediately gives up all hope of finding Moll. Kate leaves Lee because she blames him for their loss. Almost one year later Kate returns to Lee as an emaciated, sickly, skeletal thing who barely resembles a human being. She says she has been looking for Moll the entire year and her present condition is the result of the stress. Kate claims to have found Moll. Kate gives Lee directions to the house where Moll is kept. Lee doesn't find it. Lee finds a pit of burned bones that belong to children. Kate returns with Lee the next night, exactly a year to the day that Moll was taken, Halloween. There are now children in a pit to be burned. Among them is Moll. Because Kate is dying she decides to "pays the ghost" by trading places with Moll in the pit. Lee takes Moll and runs. Later, Lee is still miserable because he saved only Moll. He finds that Moll's tongue has been removed and that she doesn't try to communicate with him in any way. I feel as though there is some moral being conveyed to the reader. Appreciate what you have before it's gone? Don't give up hope? Don't be selfish? Don't pray that your wife never comes back?
Strangely enough, I watched the movie trying to find what I missed. The screenplay was very different, complete with a whole backstory. This was an exercise in futility as the movie and book were just too different. There doesn't seem to be any connection.
Strangely enough, I watched the movie trying to find what I missed. The screenplay was very different, complete with a whole backstory. This was an exercise in futility as the movie and book were just too different. There doesn't seem to be any connection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2016
Lebbon is, apparently, well known as a horror writer. My only experience with his fiction was through Star Wars, so I was surprised to learn this about him. A book buddy of mine mentioned liking this story in a review of another of Lebbon's works, and since it's close to Halloween, and I still like a good horror tale, I decided to give this a read.
Moll's father lost her on Halloween when she was six years old. The weight of that loss crushed him, enough that he lost his wife, his job, and any hope that Moll would ever return. Almost a year after her disappearance, his wife returns, claiming Moll is alive, and she knows where she is. Now, her father might learn the answer to her disappearance, as well as the answer to the question Moll asked that night a year ago: "Will you pay the ghost?"
Lebbon blends the horror of losing a child with the horrors of the unseen very well. The story is brief -- 27 pages -- but a lot happens during those pages, plot- and character-wise. It's remarkable how dense the story is, though it reads quickly and easily. The reunion of the family dynamic, such as it is, represents all that the father has experienced since losing Moll, and when he comes out of the other end of his ordeal, he is no better off than he was before. He may, in fact, be worse off.
Pay the Ghost is a grim story, with no easy answers or happy endings. I understand this has been made into a movie, but I can't see how the story as it's written here would work in the longer form. Stories with endings like these are easier to accept in short stories, but longer forms need more complete conclusions. As it is, Pay the Ghost is an excellent example of a horror story, and encourages me to find one of his horror novels.
Moll's father lost her on Halloween when she was six years old. The weight of that loss crushed him, enough that he lost his wife, his job, and any hope that Moll would ever return. Almost a year after her disappearance, his wife returns, claiming Moll is alive, and she knows where she is. Now, her father might learn the answer to her disappearance, as well as the answer to the question Moll asked that night a year ago: "Will you pay the ghost?"
Lebbon blends the horror of losing a child with the horrors of the unseen very well. The story is brief -- 27 pages -- but a lot happens during those pages, plot- and character-wise. It's remarkable how dense the story is, though it reads quickly and easily. The reunion of the family dynamic, such as it is, represents all that the father has experienced since losing Moll, and when he comes out of the other end of his ordeal, he is no better off than he was before. He may, in fact, be worse off.
Pay the Ghost is a grim story, with no easy answers or happy endings. I understand this has been made into a movie, but I can't see how the story as it's written here would work in the longer form. Stories with endings like these are easier to accept in short stories, but longer forms need more complete conclusions. As it is, Pay the Ghost is an excellent example of a horror story, and encourages me to find one of his horror novels.
January 21, 2017
I read someone else's review of this and they were gushing about how awesome it is and there's a Nicolas Cage movie based on this very short story.
My question is, why?
Don't get me wrong. It's not poorly written. It's just that among all the horror and paranormal urban fantasy out there, this tale isn't very unique. It is very short.
I just wanted more. Like for instance, answers to those fundamentals of English class - what, who, how and why. What was taking these children, what ghost was the daughter referring to? Who - as in who didn't notice the charnal bed of childrens' bones and if there was a secret way of discovering it, how? And lastly, WHY?
Sometimes short stories work better for some people than others. Nick Cage seems intense, he was probably a good choice for the movie. But my thing is, WHY is it a movie?
I dunno - I don't get it. I don't feel like I wasted my time, though and I got it for free from Kindle Unlimited, so a generous 3 stars it rates. But I'm not gushing, sorry.
My question is, why?
Don't get me wrong. It's not poorly written. It's just that among all the horror and paranormal urban fantasy out there, this tale isn't very unique. It is very short.
I just wanted more. Like for instance, answers to those fundamentals of English class - what, who, how and why. What was taking these children, what ghost was the daughter referring to? Who - as in who didn't notice the charnal bed of childrens' bones and if there was a secret way of discovering it, how? And lastly, WHY?
Sometimes short stories work better for some people than others. Nick Cage seems intense, he was probably a good choice for the movie. But my thing is, WHY is it a movie?
I dunno - I don't get it. I don't feel like I wasted my time, though and I got it for free from Kindle Unlimited, so a generous 3 stars it rates. But I'm not gushing, sorry.
July 26, 2016
This is a rather short story, but Lebbon manages to give us a pretty solid story in those few pages. A little girl is lost. A family is torn apart. The father chooses to try to grieve for his daughter while the mother never gives up hope and runs herself ragged trying to find her little girl.
The story takes place during Halloween and has some rather sinister, paranormal elements. Not really for the squeamish as there's some rather gruesome descriptors.
I'm always amazed that films can be pulled from such short works. I have not seen Pay the Ghost, but this short story is enough of a taste to make me want to.
*Digital Review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
* Upon writing this, it is available via Kindle Unlimited so feel free to take a chance if you're a subscriber! http://amzn.to/2aIeShH
The story takes place during Halloween and has some rather sinister, paranormal elements. Not really for the squeamish as there's some rather gruesome descriptors.
I'm always amazed that films can be pulled from such short works. I have not seen Pay the Ghost, but this short story is enough of a taste to make me want to.
*Digital Review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
* Upon writing this, it is available via Kindle Unlimited so feel free to take a chance if you're a subscriber! http://amzn.to/2aIeShH
August 2, 2016
Pay the Ghost is a short, creepy horror story about a couple struggling to get their kidnapped daughter back who was taken on Halloween. At 25 pages it is a very quick and enjoyable read. I was intrigued by the deterioration of Kate and would have liked a longer story detailing what was happening to her.
May 10, 2020
I grabbed a free copy of this story not long ago and decided to read it tonight.
A year ago, Lee lost his little girl during Hallowe'en. That wasn't the only thing he lost. He also loses his job and his marriage. Not to mention hope. But his wife doesn't, and the next time he sees her, she's got quite the tale to tell...
Yikes. This was super weird. And freaky. Also, very creepy.
The way Lee's grief and guilt invites so much darkness into his life, makes you wonder if anything he goes through after his life falls apart actually happens. Or makes you feel bad about the awful supernatural entity that steals everything from him.
It also proves that sometimes, what you wish for the most doesn't always turn out how you thought it would.
This story is short, but definitely NOT sweet. It's just like a delirious nightmare with a lot of gruesome imagery. I really enjoyed it!
A year ago, Lee lost his little girl during Hallowe'en. That wasn't the only thing he lost. He also loses his job and his marriage. Not to mention hope. But his wife doesn't, and the next time he sees her, she's got quite the tale to tell...
Yikes. This was super weird. And freaky. Also, very creepy.
The way Lee's grief and guilt invites so much darkness into his life, makes you wonder if anything he goes through after his life falls apart actually happens. Or makes you feel bad about the awful supernatural entity that steals everything from him.
It also proves that sometimes, what you wish for the most doesn't always turn out how you thought it would.
This story is short, but definitely NOT sweet. It's just like a delirious nightmare with a lot of gruesome imagery. I really enjoyed it!
May 8, 2020
I was surprised at how much was in this book. It isn't very long but it touches on a lot of abstract horror concepts in that amount of time without feeling too rushed or confusing.
It's easy to fall into, easy to follow, and the breakneck pace just sort of bonds you to the character.
In particular, I really liked the end. While I would have liked those final pages to linger a little longer, I think the tone really fit the project.
Overall I would highly recommend.
It's easy to fall into, easy to follow, and the breakneck pace just sort of bonds you to the character.
In particular, I really liked the end. While I would have liked those final pages to linger a little longer, I think the tone really fit the project.
Overall I would highly recommend.
September 30, 2022
Just Creepy
One year after his daughter has disappeared, a still grieving Father who has given up hope has learned that his daughter may still be alive. But at what cost will he have to pay to get her back?
This was a creepy story that reminded me a lot of Clive Barker's Candyman short story....which was also creepy.
One year after his daughter has disappeared, a still grieving Father who has given up hope has learned that his daughter may still be alive. But at what cost will he have to pay to get her back?
This was a creepy story that reminded me a lot of Clive Barker's Candyman short story....which was also creepy.
February 2, 2021
A creepy little novella for a tasty horror snack. Though the story was pretty straightforward, there were elements that will stick with me. A father in search of his missing daughter with only the confusing phrase ‘pay the ghost’ to guide him. Also, nothing like the film.
November 26, 2017
A promising premise, with lacklustre content.
To call this a novella seems to be overstating the length of this book. At a mere 27 pages the plot has to move at a rushed pace as with all short stories. The issue with this story, I think, is that the idea behind Pay The Ghost is larger in scope than the author allows. The fear and efforts of the main character seem lost as he is propelled into the plot, leaving you wishing for more development.
The book is therefore on the wrong side of 'fine'. It is true that I may be wrong, and that a longer novel with the same premise may feel as empty as this did (the film being a sign of this), but it still means this short story leaves you yearning for more, and not in the good way.
To call this a novella seems to be overstating the length of this book. At a mere 27 pages the plot has to move at a rushed pace as with all short stories. The issue with this story, I think, is that the idea behind Pay The Ghost is larger in scope than the author allows. The fear and efforts of the main character seem lost as he is propelled into the plot, leaving you wishing for more development.
The book is therefore on the wrong side of 'fine'. It is true that I may be wrong, and that a longer novel with the same premise may feel as empty as this did (the film being a sign of this), but it still means this short story leaves you yearning for more, and not in the good way.
August 12, 2018
Pay the Ghost
A perfect read for Halloween. A creepy tale to pay the ghost...can we pay the ghost?
Now I must watch the movie!
A perfect read for Halloween. A creepy tale to pay the ghost...can we pay the ghost?
Now I must watch the movie!
April 28, 2020
Atmospheric and intriguing in its bleak darkness, this is a strange and horrifying short story. A perfect Halloween read, or for any time you want a sharp but short dose of horror.
May 17, 2023
I saw the movie, Pay The Ghost, quite some time ago and when I learned it was based on a story by Tim Lebbon I wanted to read it. The story is a gripping, heart-wrenching exploration of grief, the unknown, loss, and hope. I rewatched the movie afterward. There are differences between the story and the film, the 'inspired by' bit is obvious but I enjoyed both versions of this creepy and dark tale.
August 8, 2016
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this short story in order to review it*
Moll, a 6-year-old girl, was stolen away on Halloween. One moment she was there, next to Lee -her father-, and then she was gone, vanished.
After 8 months of Moll's disappearence, Lee's wife leaves him because she thinks he's the one to blame. And a year after the disappearance... something unbelievable happens that will change Lee's life again.
Everything in "Pay the Ghost" is 'ok', in the sense that the characters, the narrative -which is in 3rd person-, the mental images, the descriptions, the settings, and the end are well developed, but I just did not connect with the story. I felt that it didn't have anything outstanding.
What caught my attention the most is this:
Even though it's not scary at all, I would recommend "Pay the Ghost" to someone who wants to read some short mystery and suspense story.
"Daddy, can we pay the ghost?"
Moll, a 6-year-old girl, was stolen away on Halloween. One moment she was there, next to Lee -her father-, and then she was gone, vanished.
After 8 months of Moll's disappearence, Lee's wife leaves him because she thinks he's the one to blame. And a year after the disappearance... something unbelievable happens that will change Lee's life again.
Everything in "Pay the Ghost" is 'ok', in the sense that the characters, the narrative -which is in 3rd person-, the mental images, the descriptions, the settings, and the end are well developed, but I just did not connect with the story. I felt that it didn't have anything outstanding.
What caught my attention the most is this:
"The tears stung the cuts on his cheeks and forehead and chin."Forehead? Do people cry upwards?
Even though it's not scary at all, I would recommend "Pay the Ghost" to someone who wants to read some short mystery and suspense story.
August 8, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Pay the Ghost is all right for a short story. The story is pretty basic: Moll, a six-year-old girl goes missing on Halloween. A year later, her father is desperate, her mother even more so. She’s been reduced to a shell of her former shelf, and when she knocks on Lee’s – Moll’s father – door, she looks like a living corpse. But she knows where Moll is, or so she claims, and Lee is desperate to save his little girl. Even if perhaps she can’t be saved at all.
The plot was pretty original, but it wasn’t fleshed out enough in this novella. I couldn’t connect to the characters because they didn’t really have personalities, not even main character Lee. There’s nothing outstanding, different, or intriguing about the book. It’s a pleasant short story, but it doesn’t stand out.
Also, for a horror story, the novella lacks scariness. I wasn’t scared at all while reading.
Pay the Ghost is all right for a short story. The story is pretty basic: Moll, a six-year-old girl goes missing on Halloween. A year later, her father is desperate, her mother even more so. She’s been reduced to a shell of her former shelf, and when she knocks on Lee’s – Moll’s father – door, she looks like a living corpse. But she knows where Moll is, or so she claims, and Lee is desperate to save his little girl. Even if perhaps she can’t be saved at all.
The plot was pretty original, but it wasn’t fleshed out enough in this novella. I couldn’t connect to the characters because they didn’t really have personalities, not even main character Lee. There’s nothing outstanding, different, or intriguing about the book. It’s a pleasant short story, but it doesn’t stand out.
Also, for a horror story, the novella lacks scariness. I wasn’t scared at all while reading.
July 20, 2016
A short story to be sold as a Kindle Single. A year after a young girl goes missing, her father has abandoned hope of ever finding her when her mother returns, saying she knows where she is. What they find is horrific and gruesome. This story layers on a lot of creepiness and horror in a short span, but I felt it would have been more effective if it had been flushed out even more. A movie starring Nicholas Cage has been made (I haven't seen it and do not know if I will).
[I received an e-galley of this book through Netgalley.]
[I received an e-galley of this book through Netgalley.]
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