I love short horror stories all year round, but once the nights turn cold and the leaves begin to turn it feels like the perfect time to indulge in some Halloween tales. Every story here can stand alone, but to me they are even tastier if you have read Ronald Kelly's previous collections, as some monsters of the past do visit in this book. Fear not if you haven't read them, they are not a requirement in order to enjoy these spookalicious stories. In the title story The Halloween Store four friends get hold of some very unusual costumes and may regret not doing their shopping at Walmart. Mister Mack Is Back In Town revisits the otherworldly being that I previously met in Mister Glow-bones 25 years have passed and children are still suffering but Mister Mack may finally be caught. Blood Suede Shoes is a cautionary tale, don't accept rides from strangers when you're walking home from a rock and roll Halloween show, even if the driver is famous. In Clown Treats three friends head to their favorite teacher's house to trick or treat but end up with a nasty surprise. The Cistern felt like the best elements of Rod Serling and Ray Bradbury in a creepy story of small town horror that proves you can't go home again, or maybe you just shouldn't! Pretty Little Lanterns is a story of a serial killer on the loose and those are not pumpkins he's carving. The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature is an advertisement two boys find in a very old comic book, and it makes me glad I listened to my mother about not sending away for things in ads although they certainly got their money's worth.

This book is all treats and no tricks. I feel like I scored a bag of full size candy bars and not a mini toothpaste or pencil eraser in the bunch.

Creep stories, many of them are downright scary and made me stop reading for some minutes because of the plot, so I had time to process and cancel the image of my mind. The one about Jack O' Lanterns made of people's head was... gruesome.
But they serve their purpose of being scary in Halloween, and they were well written. It does not matter that you know that something bad is going to happen, or that is easy to identify the villain of the narrative, because the events following each case is enough to make you squirm in your seat.

Seasonal horror is special because it's not in great supply. I'm one of those people that gets very excited about enjoying traditions year after year as a way of looking forward to certain holidays. Reading Halloween-specific tales in October is my favorite!
THE HALLOWEEN STORE and Other Tales of All Hallows' Eve came out this year (2020) but will now forever remain in my line-up of books I will enjoy annually! I get excited about adding new books to my specific, spooky October books. This one is quintessential!
Stories:
*****THE HALLOWEEN STORE- a fantastic coming-of-age story with building dread, Fast pace; short
*****MISTER MACK IS BACK IN TOWN- longer story, mystery, supernatural, missing children, creature-feature.
**BLOOD SUEDE SHOES- this was the only one I didn't like very much because I didn't care for the way the main character was portrayed.
***CLOWN TREATS- campy, gross, creepy clowns
***THE CISTERN- Small town horror
*****PRETTY LITTLE LANTERNS- the scariest and most intensely dark story of the bunch. This one creeped me out. The author imagines if Jack the Ripper escaped London and struck again in rural America. Terrifying.
****THE AMAZING AND TOTALLY AWESOME FRIGHT CREATURE- This one was so fun!!
THE LAST HALLOWEEN: An Essay- I loved Ronald Kelly's essay and insight into his Halloween experiences
MY TOP 10 FAVORITE HALLOWEEN STUFF OF THE '60s and '70s- so nostalgic and fun, I'm pleased he included this in the book. I loved the section about Halloween Candy

I will read from this short story collection every year. Bravo, Ronald Kelly! I'm excited I have another Halloween anthology from this author to enjoy.

This is our season, people. The time of year where spooky stuff is everywhere and the type of things we celebrate year-round become socially acceptable, at least temporarily. That said, I have mixed feelings on these types of collections. Sometimes it can feel a bit opportunistic, and seasonally themed stories read like the holiday element was an afterthought in the story’s plot.
Ronald Kelly’s The Halloween Store doesn’t suffer from this. Quite the opposite. Something that stuck with me was how Kelly used the introduction as well as a couple essays at the end to wax poetic about his lifelong love of Halloween. The reader is transported back to the days of late September trips to the drug store - bins full of grotesque rubber masks and costumes in spades, presenting the opportunity to become anything for just one night. Then there’s the magic of the night itself. But I’m allowing a book review to turn into a nostalgia session here.
The Halloween Store collects seven stories with the aforementioned essays together. The titular story reflects and builds on the idea of being able to transform into your favorite monster for one night. We see the magic, the excitement, while also examining the horrifying consequences that would result from such an ability.
Some of the stories collected maintain a more traditional short story length, hitting fast and hard as I’ve discovered Kelly is wont to do. “Blood Suede Shoes”, “Clown Treats”, “The Cistern”, and “The Amazing and Totally Awesome Fright Creature!” all detail accounts that transpire on Halloween nights, but stray from the carefree fun you remember from childhood. Of these, “Clown Treats” is the probably the most deranged, and therefore obviously, my favorite.
The other stories have a little more length to them, and benefit from that added word count. “The Halloween Store” and “Mister Mack is Back in Town” are in that mold, but perhaps it works best in the almost novelette length “Pretty Little Lanterns”. Taking place in the 1920’s. This story is a fun, intriguing combination of murder mystery and slasher bringing in Jack the Ripper lore to craft something really memorable. Certainly my favorite offering in an already stellar collection.
At 150 pages, The Halloween Store is a quick read, and even though some stories are better than others, there are no clunkers. This may be a collection I revisit every year when the leaves begin to fall off the trees.

I received a copy from the author for review consideration.