The Pumpkin Man

By: John Everson

Narrated by: Jennifer March

After her father's gruesome murder, Jenn needed a place to get away from it all with some friends, to take her mind off her sorrow. The empty seaside cottage she inherited seemed perfect. Jenn didn't know that the cottage held arcane secrets, mysteries long hidden and best left alone. She didn't realize until it was too late that the old books and Ouija board she found there really do hold great power. And it was only after her friend's headless body was discovered that she knew the legend of the local bogeyman was no mere legend at all. An evil has been unleashed, a terrifying figure previously only spoken of in whispers. But now the whispers will become screams. Beware...the Pumpkin Man.

©2014 John Everson (P)2023 Fright Night Audio

The Pumpkin Man

Jenn has just lost her father in a horrendous murder, then she loses her job. Since she has recently inherited her Aunt Meredith's house in California, she and her roommate decide to spend some time there while deciding what to do next.

What they don't realize is that her Aunt was a witch and her uncle was (probably) the infamous Pumpkin Man. This urban legend surrounds a series of horrible murders in the small community with the victims' bodies being found without their heads and pumpkin scraps in the vicinity.

The book had creepy moments and plenty of things going on, but I found myself having to suspend belief a lot throughout the book. Jenn and her friends find many things on the property that would have sent any normal person running away. Instead, in true horror movie fashion, they decide to leave law enforcement out of it and try to solve things on their own. And, they keep using a Ouija board to try to contact Aunt Meredith! (Of course, this doesn't end well!).

The narrator did a good job and added a lot to my ability to keep listening. To me, the book could have been much shorter and still gotten the story across. Not a bad book, but not one I will revisit.

Top notch old school horror w/ Halloween theme …

John Everson is probably best known for his erotic horror stories but I believe he is at his best when he sticks to straight in your face horror which is the case here. I really liked this story. It had all the elements of great old school horror, sympathetic characters, urban legend, slasher/serial killer, plenty of gore and a well concealed surprise ending. It also had a fair dose of the supernatural. All in all I would recommend this book to all horror fans who enjoy old school story telling. I listened to this story as I read along and the performance by the narrator was excellent as well.
I look forward to more from this author in the future.

Such a creepy fun ride!

This book started off with a smash! We are introduced to two young women who have no clue what they’re in for. It turns out, pumpkin carving, and carving in general, isn’t a seasonal activity. For some, it’s a vengeful sport. And this is a twisty, gory and anxiety-stoking tale of The Pumpkin Man. Definitely recommend. The way I gripped the steering wheel while listening to some parts, the way I yelled at my speakers at others… this was a fantastic audible experience! Great for Halloween and every day after!