Since 2019, writer B.A. Ries has churned out dozens of stories of dark thrills and edge-of-your-seat suspense, garnering praise and attention in Reddit's NoSleep horror writing community. Many of these stories have been adapted for audio by podcasts such as The NoSleep Podcast and Creepy, and several have been published in written anthologies. Now, for the first time, B.A. Ries presents a compilation of his writing in Friends, Lovers, and Other Gaslighters.
These 25 tales of the macabre and the bizarre feature an assortment of menacing minions, from hitchhiking ghosts to sentient scarecrows to vindictive vending machines. A washed-up star from a children's television show is hired to appear at a mysterious gathering. A woman returning home for the holidays finds herself drawn into a strange Christmas village. Two girls bond at summer camp, only to learn that they each harbor a dark secret. An ideal job comes with a shocking drawback.
Don't expect formula from these stories. They go to weird, dark places. Some are just spooky; others also explore social issues: soul-sucking jobs, opioid addiction, the lingering impact of pandemic-era isolation, compulsory heterosexuality, and sexual repression. More than anything, these stories are about the worst demons of all - those who abuse the trust you put in them to make you question yourself, your identity, and whether your loved ones love you back. Friends, Lovers, and Other Gaslighters provides a glimpse into a world of those who trick you into letting them into your life. And, by the time you realize that your friend - or even your lover - is your enemy, it's already too late.
