Fun weirdo horror novella. Creepy, not gorey.

This one just wrecked me! Brothers, Davey and Ronny witness Maggie returning to their farm with a body, but it's not quite what you first suspect and this body is to be a part of their family. Miss Rose needs to learn how to function as a human again and doesn't appear to have any memory of her life before arriving at the farm.

This is a short book, so it is hard to say much beyond the above, but the payoff is immense. The book is made up of short chapters and is easily devourable in a sitting. I can't rightly say who wrote what in here, but Lutzke has an afterword that notes Boden writes more poetically and gives a short summary on how the project grew from a Boden short story.

This one was part of WellReadBeard's top 20 novellas and there was a host of other Boden titles included that I will need to seek out. I already have more Lutzke lined up and although I am mainly a crime fiction reader, it appears there is going to be more time devoted to horror in the upcoming future.

3 and 1/2⭐ Interesting and almost poetic novella that is hard to explain without giving anything away. It's definitely worth a read.

It’s a hundred page novella where it specifically is about figuring out what’s going on, so it’s tough for me to talk about this much without spoiling anything.

That said the story mostly centers around the older of two children living on a farm with an aging matron.

For a weird bucolic little horror story it is surprisingly sweet. It’s so heavily influenced by Bradbury nostalgia that the authors wisely shouted him out multiple time to let you know that they weren’t trying to hide it.

A fascinating approach from the authors’ side, was that they create a mystery and just kind of leave it there. They give the PoV of the main characters living in this space, guessing their way to the end. It worked well for me, although I have to admit I would have loved a denouement to wrap a loose end up.

All in all, it’s a very cozy quick read of Appalachian witchy horror.

Novellas are beginning to really grow on me. More developed than a short story but not as involved as a novel, this one-sitting type read offers a contained glimpse into a world that often leaves me wanting more, but at the same time feeling fully satisfied in the tale that was told.

Out Behind the Barn is a tense and eerie tale, almost fable-like in structure. It follows the perspective of two young boys who live on a secluded farm with Miss Maggie, a woman who takes care of them. She brings other people to the farm every once in a while, people who don’t remember anything, who need to be taught simple things—people who aren’t quite right. But they will learn—that is, until they disappear.

The story is a rumination on family and our intense need for the closeness and love of others. It delves into things not quite natural in a dark way that digs right to the heart of the issue.

Though I guessed what was going on in the story fairly early due to a few well-placed hints, the tension in the story builds and builds—it is a taut, live wire of suspense. I was invested in the story and wanted to see where it would go!

Boden and Lutzke are a team that work well together. Their collaboration on this project is seamless and I look forward to reading more of their work—what they might write together as well as separately.

Interesting and creepy story that is poetically written. Took a totally different turn than what I was anticipating.

A quick read, I've always loved shorter chapters because they really help speed the process along. An enjoyable little story that left me feeling kinda sad at the end.

(Thank you to the authors for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review)

Oh my heart! Let me whip out my Horror Boxes Checklist and explain how in just over 100 pages, Chad Lutzke and John Boden seamlessly blended their unique, yet harmonious storytelling voice to tell a tale I won't ever forget.
I was so fascinated by the way this story came together. The author's notes reveal the birth of "MAGGIE'S FARM" by John Boden (which now I want to read) and how with Chad's contribution, the story grew into OUT BEHIND THE BARN. I mention this because this checks the "Hands Box" which is all about skill. After reading Boden's "DOMINOES" recently and Lutzke's "OF FOSTER HOMES AND FLIES" and "SKULLFACE BOY", I'm familiar with each of these talented author's skillset and how they compliment each other so well. Super impressed with this collaboration.
This book can easily be spoiled so I'm not going to say anything that would diminish the reading experience for anyone--so I'll just say that the journey was so delicious. I loved the narrative from the perspective of two young boys and the naiveté that came with it--even though the reader (however seasoned with horror you might be) is more advanced in their perspective of events and trying to desperately "figure things out".
But Lutzke and Boden do a good job unpacking things slowly (but not laboriously) and revealing pieces of the mystery on their terms. This satisfied me on both skill & mastery of the craft and also "horror with teeth"; I knew eventually, this tale would bite.
Lastly, my heart.
At the end, my heart exposed, rendered and gently squeezed walked away from the last page feeling sad to say goodbye and little worse for wear. However, I also felt like I had been given a gift by two creatives who truly know what readers want. An experience/journey that won't likely be forgotten and that's exactly what they accomplished. I hope, hope, HOPE that these two collaborate again. This was a real treat.

I got this book in the January Nightworms Box (such a good subscription box for horror fans!)

It’s a short little book, but with a huge impact. The story throws you right in, and somehow over the course of 100 pages, you really feel for these characters. The horror builds slowly and subtly, starting as a niggle at the back of your brain, the wrongness builds and as you begin to see the shape of things, understanding brings a new sensation. And the ending ... the ending hurts.

This was a fantastic story, one that will have me thinking about it and turning it over in my mind for many nights to come. As is so often the case with well-curated subscription boxes, now I have to go out and find more stuff by these guys.