Advance Review: A GRAVESIDE GALLERY

by | Mar 12, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reviews, The Horror Review News | 0 comments

A Graveside Gallery
Eric J. Guignard
Cemetery Dance (April 22, 2025)
Reviewed by Carson Buckingham

In this superb collection of nineteen stories, Eric Guignard holds nothing back. This is his second collection of short stories, the first being That Which Grows Wild (also reviewed on this site). He will take you from monsters, to murder, to science fiction, to reimagining classics, to historical horror, and beyond. Guignard’s versatility is nothing short of astounding, and this collection includes something for everyone (except Danielle Steel readers…oh, well…).

I read through this twice and enjoyed it just as much the second time—Guignard’s writing is that good. Here is a quick rundown of what to expect:

 

“Penny’s Diner”—A suicide with something different in a snowstorm.

“A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds”—Social commentary and making amends during The Day of the Dead is the theme of this one.

“If I Drive Before I Wake” – The perils of human laziness and over-reliance on technology.

“Bummin’ to the Beat of the Road” – a teenage killer sets out to hitchhike around the country, only to discover that another generation already has the chops that he has only begun to acquire.

“The Telephone Game” – Janice gets some hard news, starting with a 6 AM phone call. One of my favorites.

“The Tale of Samuel Whiskers; or, A London Digression” – Cute ‘city mouse, country mouse’ type of story. Very funny.

“Drink, Drink From the Fountain of Death” – Antique hunters get lost on a buying trip in Florida and come upon a tiny town that is full of antique shops with a Ponce de Leon theme. When they try to leave…well, that’s when the horror really begins. Another of my favorites.

“Ritual Sacrifice to the Great God of Skates” – Craig is into MaryAnne, and though he is terrible at it, he agrees to go to a skating rink with her.  Bad idea.

“The Moon Over Andersonville” – A Civil War story set at the Andersonville POW camp in Georgia. Union prisoners were kept in filthy conditions and were dying of dysentery, scurvy, gangrene, and starvation. Then a young soldier with a sore on his arm is brought in and things get really interesting. Another favorite.

“A Stoke of Death” – An artist with a horrifying talent is used by a gang boss…until the artist finds a way to strike back.  I loved this one.

“The Shimmer of Trees” – A hiker walks into a new reality that may be being built around us.

“Ommetaphobia” – Dean, blind from birth, gets the gift of sight back. Is it a gift or a curse?

“The Ascending Lights of Yu Lan” – Honor your ancestors…or else.

“Two Hearts Make a Half; or, Ghosts of a Rodeo Clown.” – Odd ghost/cryptid story.

“Perchance to Dream in Voices of a Fiend: A Fanciful Epilogue to Frankenstein” – Just as the title says, this story picks up where Mary Shelley left off. Cleverly done.

“Incident at the Red Hawk Road Stop” –  A fortuneteller, separated from her circus jump,  gets more than she bargained for when she stops for gas. But then again, so does somebody else…

“O Shades, My Woe” – A horrifying tale about King Arthur’s promiscuity.

“Carmine Lips and a Fade Into Oblivion” – The last day for the last two people left in the world. Sweetly poignant. You will love both characters. I would have ended the book with this one.

“The First Order of Whaleyville’s Divine Basilisk Handlers” – A small town in which rattlesnake-handling is part of their religion. Since the river has been allowed to run almost dry between Whaleyville and Swannanoa, the basilisks from Swannanoa are coming across…and they are worse than the rattlers…much worse…

 

So, there you have it. This is a book that stands up well to re-reading, and if you have a ghost story night on Christmas Eve, you’ll definitely want to choose one from this most excellent book. I can’t recommend it enough. Do yourself a favor and add it to your library.

5 out of 5 stars.

 

About Carson Buckingham

Professionally, Carson Buckingham has made her way in life doing all manner of things, most of which involve arson. She is currently employed as a freelance writer on a work release program. In her spare time, she studies forensics, in hopes of applying her new knowledge to eluding the authorities more effectively the next time. She is originally from Connecticut, but now resides in Kentucky—and Connecticut is glad to be rid of her.

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