The latest from writer Francesca Maria, They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark, is a varied collection full of fun and frightening stories with unique twists. The stories are delightful and most importantly full of extreme variety that manages to play well off one another. Kicking off the collection is “The Wysterfield Murders,” a folk horror set in a rural religious community concerning a Goodwife attempting to solve a series of murders with a demonic edge to them. The writing is enjoyable and engaging, the characters strong. The story treads familiar territory, but with enough freshness to keep the pages turning.

Maria keeps the terror up in “My Brother Andy,” a particularly disturbing tale of a sister who discovers her brother is possessed by a mysterious entity that makes him do things he normally wouldn’t. This story is a slow burn that allows creeping dread and unease to build up throughout. One of the best in the collection with an absolutely chilling denouement.

“The Circus” brings us to familiar territory in a disturbing carnival of horrors, particularly the clowns. Maria's strength as a writer is being able to explore the expected and give it unique twists and turns to make it intense and engaging. This tale is no exception.

Maria’s writing is likewise about the concept and strength of prose as a plot, and “Imhotep” displays it well. Taken from the POV of the titular mummy, Maria delves into the head of a monster raging against imprisonment and fate and longing for the chance to be free. A surprisingly adept retelling that makes one long to see the inevitable rampage.

They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark is a solid collection of fun horror tales.