Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.

To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.

A traditional haunted house story in a thoroughly contemporary setting, Horrorstör is designed to retain its luster and natural appearance for a lifetime of use. Pleasingly proportioned with generous French flaps and a softcover binding, Horrorstör delivers the psychological terror you need in the elegant package you deserve.

There’s something about a Grady Hendrix novel that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. In my opinion, his are the perfect type of book for Halloween. He always manages to crack me up while creeping me out (and occasionally grossing me out). Since discovering him a couple of years ago, I have read one of his books each fall and have loved every one, though this has to be one of the more creative I have read.

The book focuses on 24-year-old Amy, an employee of Orsk – a store very similar to IKEA. Amy grew up poor and remains that way even as an adult. She struggles to keep up with her bills, hates the store where she works, can’t stand her boss, and is eager to transfer to a different location. When her boss asks her and another employee to spend the night with him in the store so that they can figure out who is breaking in and wreaking havoc after the store closes, Amy agrees only because she is promised double overtime. She’ll suck it up and deal with her annoying supervisor. It’s only for one night, and the money will help with her mounting bills.

What starts as a simple task quickly becomes a terrifying ordeal as the night progresses. It soon becomes apparent that it’s not that people are breaking into the store after dark; it’s that there’s something undead haunting the store, and before the night is over, not only will the ghostly presence make themselves known, but they’ll also add a few more members to their ranks – unless Amy and her crew can outsmart them and escape before it’s too late.

If you’ve read any of his books, you’ll know that Hendrix is an expert at blending elements of horror and humor to create a truly unique reading experience. The setting of a familiar furniture store adds an extra layer of irony and tension to the story and helps us feel like we are right there with the characters. Speaking of the characters, I loved them all and could easily picture them. This would make for an amazing movie, and I can totally picture Maya Hawk as Amy, Jaleele White as Basil, and Melissa McCarthy as Ruth-Ann.

As is to be expected, Hendrix’s writing is sharp, witty, and filled with clever twists and turns. The pacing is perfect. Hendrix gives us just enough time to feel settled with the characters before he pulls the ripcord and sends us on a fast-paced journey through a night of horror. It’s a heck of a ride, and I loved how it ended.

What also helped make this a unique experience is the fact that the book mimics the style of an Ikea catalog, complete with floor plans, product descriptions, and illustrations. This playful formatting adds an interactive element to the reading experience, drawing readers further into the story. Whoever came up with this concept is truly brilliant!

This is just another shining example of how a horror book can be creepy and funny at the same time. With its clever premise and ingenious design, this is a book that everyone should experience in print format if at all possible. It’s a quick read and one I would highly recommend to haunted house lovers – especially if you like your horror with a hefty side of comedy and tongue-in-cheek social commentary.

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