Dread Rating: 5 Skull

The Conservator's Collection: Derelict 
by Jay Bower, John Durgin, and John Lynch 

Available on October 13, 2023

Immortal. Undying. The Conservator of Horror…
Hidden within dusty shelves are tomes made of human flesh, Blood-soaked pages reveal tales once thought to be lost but now revealed for the first time by The Conservator.

Immortal. Undying. The Conservator of Horror…

Hidden within dusty shelves are tomes made of human flesh, Blood-soaked pages reveal tales once thought to be lost but now revealed for the first time by The Conservator.

He spent decades collecting and preserving forgotten lore. Now, he’s decided to unveil three of the best legends culled from the darkness.

The tone is set with John Durgin’s Blank Space, a vicious story that introduces Helen Crowe, an entity not easily forgotten.

Jay Bower’s Eyebiters Revenge follows a group of friends hoping to invoke the spirits of the dead in an abandoned school, only to find something even more sinister.

The Conservator ends with John Lynch’s brutal tale, Expiration of Sentence. The darkness of a prison hides a horrific evil where no one is safe.

Bringing together three nightmares for a special collection, The Conservator awaits your presence.

Robin's Review: Prepare to be thrilled and terrified as you delve into the macabre world of The Conservator's Collection: Derelict. Three chilling stories await you - buckle up: it's going to be a spine-tingling ride.

Musings from the Conservator,
“I imagined I was the only one in the world who had access to these nightmares. But then I considered that others might enjoy them as much as I. After careful consideration, I decided it was time to unleash these stories into the wild. Delving into the dusty, cobweb infested shelves, I soon discovered patterns within the stories. Themes emerged that called to me, and like a true connoisseur of the macabre, I answered.”

First up is,
Blank Space by John Durgin
Little Katie Ripley survived a brutal massacre that claimed the lives of everyone in her group home. As a "crisis child," she is placed with the Page family. But something dark and sinister lurks within her new foster home, unleashing a series of eerie events. 

“The house looked as if a tornado of buzz saws had blasted through the downstairs, slicing up everything in its path.”

Next is,
 Eyebiter’s Revenge by Jay Bower
Unveiling the Dark Secret: Pete and his friend’s trespass into their soon-to-be demolished school, only to discover that something sinister lurks within its walls. 
“It was his intent to conjure the spirits within the school and communicate with them. The rumor around town was that the children who died in the shooting were still trapped within the walls of the school. Some claimed the adults were there too, which meant his father might still be there.”

And finally,
Expiration Of Sentence by John Lynch
Incarcerated for seeking justice: Richard Murphy faces harsh consequences for avenging his son's rapist, then he is denied parole in his 5 to 15-year sentence.
“As I was going to say, you present well. But I know that you’re a smart man, Mr. Murphy. You aren’t like many of the other inmates around here. You admit what you’ve done. You appear to show remorse for your crime. But you’ll notice the key word there. You appear to show remorse, Mr. Murphy. I believe that a smart man such as yourself is simply playing the game.”
Buckle up!

Walk With Me Into the Dark