Review: The Tickle Monster, David Washburn

I read (or watched, because Washburn’s writing pulls you straight into the scene like you’re standing in the woods with them) The Tickle Monster by David Washburn, and wow… what a tense little rollercoaster.

You instantly grow attached to Teddy and Anna. You care about them. You fear for them. You do not want them to go off into the woods like their parents have warned them.

Teddy especially is written with such innocence and authenticity that you can’t help but want to protect him. I’d honestly love to read more of his story, he feels that real.

This is a brilliant, creepy read and perfect for anyone dipping their toes into the horror genre.

Short, atmospheric, and memorable. Highly recommended!

Amazon Synopsis for The Tickle Monster

There is comfort in the wholesomeness of family.

Pure joy to be cherished in the innocence of a child.

…But what happens when a looming sense of dread has a death-grip on a child’s mind?

Teddy is ‘only a boy’ but there is a rebellious fire in his belly that urges him to forge his own path as a man. With much to learn, his father does his best to teach him about being a man and respecting family traditions while appreciating the mundane.

After Teddy’s father tells him not to go into the woods, in what was meant to be a teachable moment, Teddy is soon faced with a choice that sees him in the very place where he shouldn’t be.

Teddy encounters something that he cannot make sense of that will haunt him in the coming days.

This tale of colonial era horror proves that a child’s imagination isn’t always a safe place.

Question:

What's the spookiest encounter you've had with the outdoors? Place your answer in the comments below.