PRAISE

The Zombie Who Cried Human

“The series takes classic children’s stories and add a spooky twist. The Zombie Who Cried Human takes its inspiration from Aesop’s fable ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf,’ teaching the moral that even the walking dead should remember to be honest.”
— Entertainment Weekly

Walking With Ghosts

“Freeman writes like someone who has seen the darkness lurking within the human heart and is compelled to shine a light on our deepest fears. His writing will leave you both chilled and deeply moved.”
— William Peter Blatty, author of The Exorcist and Legion

“Brian James Freeman is a well respected author of short stories in the field of dark fiction. His specialty is what we used to call “quiet horror”(the master of which was Charles L. Grant), meaning a type of horror fiction where the reader is disturbed and unsettled in a gentle, but deep fashion, without making use of gore, unnecessary violence, and graphic details. The exact opposite of so-called “splatterpunk” but, in the end, much more effective in producing shivers and fright… [These stories] are very good. So good that it’s hard to pinpoint the more accomplished, being impossible to comment in detail upon each one… A highly recommended collection.”
— Mario Guslandi, Hellnotes

“This is a fantastic volume that gathers together the majority of Brian James Freeman’s short stories. If you have never read any of Brian’s stories, getting this volume will make your reading cup overflow with goodness… This is a volume that should definitely find a place on your horror shelf, especially if you prefer that psychologic horror that sneaks up behind you and slaps you in the back of your head… Brian James Freeman is a force to be reckoned with. He writes extremely well and his stories pack a punch to the gut. And to the heart.”
— Barry Hunter, The Baryon Review

“If you want to really make your internal temperature drop by more than just a couple of degrees, pick up Brian James Freeman’s collection of tales. Freeman has the gift for creating a world economically in his stories that lingers long after the final paragraph, sometimes because of the characters but often more the ambience evoked, something that William Peter Blatty picks up on in his introduction… A carelessly chosen word in a review can spoil the power of these stories, or give away the very carefully plotted twists… Suffice it to say that there are none that won’t make you stop and think after they’re done… and often wonder if your own heart is quite as dark as those we meet in these pages. Verdict: A dark and chilling collection of stories that will inveigle their way into your mind. 9/10”
— Paul Simpson, Sci-Fi Bulletin

Darkness Whispers (with Richard Chizmar)

“Anthology editors Chizmar (the Shivers series) and Freeman (the Dark Screams series) build tension and hook readers with this svelte tale of modern small-town life gone wrong. The characters are instantly engaging, and the story moves at a satisfying clip…”
— Publishers Weekly

“Filled with enough plot, characterization and metaphorical heft to stuff a full-length novel, Darkness Whispers brilliantly depicts the supernatural exploitation of a small town’s moral failings. Subtly shifting from Bradbury-esque whimsy to badass horror worthy of the King himself, the novella is a major achievement by Richard Chizmar and Brian James Freeman.”
— Bentley Little, author of The Consultant and The Influence

“Darkness Whispers begins as a visit to a golden-hued, idyllic town that soon gets dark. Very dark. I quickly gave up trying to second-guess the formidable authors and simply surrendered to their lead all the way to the shattering conclusion. Chizmar and Freeman know that horror doesn’t work without humanity, and with this story they succeed in chilling our blood and breaking our hearts.”
— Ray Garton, author of Live Girls and Night Life

The Halloween Children (with Norman Prentiss)

“This latest installment in Earthling Publications’ annual Halloween series recollects the macabre and gruesome events that befall a suburban apartment. Delivered through a series of journal entries and interview transcripts, The Halloween Children goes beyond the creepy kids and paranormal hauntings tropes to deliver a disturbing and thought-provoking look into family dynamics and our own changing imaginations.”
— Rue Morgue issue #149

“This is an unsettling and complex work of fiction… The Halloween Children is a superb celebration of the season, and also offers up a timely reminder not to be a spoilsport or grouch at this time of the year, a reminder pitched in a refreshingly different and entertaining manner.”
— Black Static #44

“The Halloween Children is a twisty funhouse ride through the minds of Brian James Freeman and Norman Prentiss, two enormously talented writers who have created an instant Halloween classic in this, their first collaboration. Much like Norm Partridge’s Dark Harvest, The Halloween Children is an expert distillation of the Halloween season, capturing that peculiar mix of excitement, dread and outright fear in its pages… From the great, early slow build of the book to the terrifying, satisfying payoff, The Halloween Children is a complete success. Freeman and Prentiss do a great job in blending their unique styles into one pure voice – like Stephen King and Peter Straub with The Talisman and Black House, you’ll try to guess who wrote what, and you’ll most likely get it wrong. Reading this was the perfect kickoff to the Halloween season for me, and I have a feeling it will be part of my permanent October rotation for a long time to come.”
— October Country

“The Halloween Children is frankly one of the more disturbing books I have ever read. From page to page my opinion of who was the monster behind what was going on changed from husband to wife to the children and then back. I was shocked and startled, grossed out and horrified – and I enjoyed every minute of it. And in the end, I still wasn’t sure who was the craziest – myself included. Freeman and Prentiss have created a disturbing tale with images so vivid they leapt from the page into brilliantly colored pictures in the mind. This is one powerful book. Treat yourself to this one for Halloween but be warned – have plenty of candy on hand for The Halloween Children should come knocking.”
— The Baryon Review

“A beautifully-written, scary novel that is as much about the dark side of marriage as it is a savagely disturbing Halloween yarn.”
— Horror Drive-In

“The Halloween Children is utterly original and deserves to be given applause on its own merits. This is an everyman’s horror story, the best, most relatable kind and holds family close to its dark heart. Freeman and Prentiss are talented, far more than have been recognized by the masses. The storytelling here is near flawless, as is the writing, always a challenge in a collaboration. If this is what they are capable of as a team, I hope that more will be on the way. Able to be read in one sitting, take some time and enjoy it, allowing its effects to take hold. A perfect tale for any holiday. Well, a holiday that includes a fragmented, fragile family, so yes, this is perfect for just about any reader.”
— HorrorWorld.org

“Smouldering novel with a deceptively subtle start before erupting into a charnel house of vivid horror. The Halloween Children is intelligent story-telling for the discerning, and most definitely the stuff of Halloween nightmares.”
— Simon Clark, author of Blood Crazy and The Night of the Triffids

“With sledgehammer imagery that hits you right in the subconscious, The Halloween Children takes a good hard look at unconditional parental love and the insidious nature of family.”
— Kaaron Warren, Shirley Jackson Award winner, author of Slights and Through Splintered Walls

“When we grow up, we forget the strange and frightening world that children can inhabit in their minds… and sometimes we forget it at our peril. Brian James Freeman and Norman Prentiss have brought this home in a highly convincing horror story for Hallowe’en, told in a chorus of voices that give it an eerily 3-D sense of gradually-mounting dread. One scene in particular is unforgettable…you will never be able to look at a parakeet again without seeing it and even smelling it.”
— Graham Masterton, author of The Manitou and Night Warriors

“Beautifully crafted, this is horror that will affect even the most jaded of horror fans.”
— The Behrg Writes

“Beautifully conceived and executed, The Halloween Children is a great and spooky read for anytime of year… Highly recommended, especially to fans of atmospheric, psychological horror!”
— Char’s Horror Corner

“Although Halloween is still some months away, there’s no excuse not to get yourself in the mood with a good Halloween tale. Which is exactly what authors Brian James Freeman and Norman Prentiss have delivered with The Halloween Children – a solid, creepy, tale of horror and paranoia, in the vein of Stephen King’s The Shining.”
— Fresh Blood

Lost & Lonely

“Five tales of loss, sadness, and the depths of humanity are brought forth in this latest collection from Brian James Freeman… Five stories, five different realms of life, all colliding to bring us a wonderful collection.”
— Mark Sieber, Horror Drive-In

Weak and Wounded

“Weak and Wounded plunges us into small worlds, in which people live desperate lives and struggle with impossible decisions. Loss permeates every page: these people survive the deaths of parents, children, spouses, and siblings, only to find that survival might be a fate worse than death. But the power in these pages comes not from what our protagonists suffer, but how they suffer it. How they continue to go on…. By tying these stories together by theme, feel, and intent, Freeman has created a work of collected fiction that stands as one piece. Each story beats with its own punctured heart, but taken as a whole, Weak and Wounded is even better than the sum of its broken and damaged parts.”
— FEARnet, Kevin Quigley

“This is the most enjoyable compilation of Brian James Freeman’s work that I have read to date. Every single story was entertaining and had tremendous shock value… these tales represented some of his best short story writing. The artwork by Glenn Chadbourne featured at the end of each story just enhanced the chill factor of each tale, bringing the scene imagined by the reader to life. I had a blast reading Weak and Wounded.”
— G-POP.net, Melissa Minners

“Brian James Freeman is a brilliant writer whose horror stories do not rely upon vampires, zombies or werewolves, as the present collection (a slim book reprinting five of his previously published stories) clearly demonstrates. In these stories he portrays one of the true horrors afflicting human existence, namely the pain,the hurt and the emptiness created by the loss of loved ones. Freeman describes that horror with skill, insight and finesse, leaving behind a deep sense of sorrow and anger for the atrocities of life… Whether you’re a horror fan or not, it doesn’t matter: anyone fond of good fiction addressing and probing the deep secrets of the human soul will be enchanted by the sheer beauty of those stories.”
— SF Site, Mario Guslandi

More Than Midnight

“Brian James Freeman brings more to the table than the simple intent to horrify you… There’s clean, sharp prose, there’s a compelling, human heart to every tale, fine touches of humor, and an astute understanding of the more powerful emotions in life — terror, sure, but also loss, grief, struggle, endurance.”
— Michael Koryta

“Brian James Freeman is one of those writers that someone, some day, is going to call an ‘overnight success,’ completely ignorant of the fact that the guy has been pounding a keyboard for years, honing his craft and developing his voice the way all good writers do… You get the sense that Freeman was having a ball writing these, telling his own little campfire tales and hoping they’d find an audience. His enjoyment is infectious.”
— Blu Gilliand, October Country

“For the numerous readers who have developed an appetite for Freeman’s charming dark fiction, here’s a brand new mini-collection assembling five excellent short stories… It is now evident that Freeman is no longer a promising horror writer but an established master of the genre.”
— The British Fantasy Society, Mario Guslandi

“More Than Midnight contains five well-written, scary tales that do exactly what they were designed to do: make you turn on some extra lights, glance once or twice out the window (if reading on a dark night, which is the best time to read these kind of tales anyway) and feel the hairs on the back of your neck rise as your rub at the goose pimples slowly rising on your flesh. These tales were written in the hopes that they would spook you and that’s exactly what they do. Mission accomplished!”
— G-POP.net, Melissa Minners

“More Than Midnight by Brian James Freeman is the dark night of the soul with lightning snapping in the background, revealing that lone, dark figure standing in the roadway with his arms open for you. Go ahead and buy the book, then give that stranger a hug and pray he doesn’t strangle you before the last page is finished.”
— Hellnotes

The Painted Darkness

“Fast-paced, satisfying horror… a compelling read thanks to skillfully composed prose that builds tension and evokes emotional response.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Spooky stuff!”
— Richard Matheson, New York Times bestselling author of What Dreams May Come and I Am Legend

“The tone and building dread reminded me of classic Stephen King. Great velocity and impact, and super creepy. Don’t go in the basement!”
— Stewart O’Nan, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Country and A Prayer for the Dying

“The Painted Darkness is a dark, terrifying, and deeply moving gem of a novella. Brian James Freeman managed to both scare me and move me to tears.”
— Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Keepsake

“Brian James Freeman’s evocative tale about the dark corners of an artist’s imagination is elegant and haunting. This beautifully designed book with splendid illustrations by Jill Bauman is a pleasure to read and a joy to hold.”
— David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Shimmer

“Wonderfully reminiscent of the quiet horror of Charles L. Grant, The Painted Darkness takes readers on a gently chilly walk through the forest of fears both conscious and subconscious. With Straubian lyricism, Brian James Freeman evokes not only the irrational terrors of childhood, but addresses the roots of creativity and the vital importance of art. A very impressive achievement.”
— Bentley Little, award-winning author of The House and His Father’s Son

“The Painted Darkness delves into territory that fascinates so many of us — the fine lines between beauty and horror, faith and fear, art and the unconscious. Both a wonderful allegory and a gripping read, Brian James Freeman has written a taut, memorable tale.”
— Michael Koryta, award-winning author of So Cold the River, The Cypress House, and The Ridge

“The printed page is Brian James Freeman’s canvas, and he is painting darkness.
Lose yourself in it.”
— Brian Keene, award-winning author of The Rising and Darkness On the Edge of Town

“The Painted Darkness is one of the best stories I’ve read this year… We all have childhood demons of one kind or another and this story really struck a chord with me. Mr. Freeman takes you on a journey that is both dark and uplifting. This story will scare the hell out of you and also bring a tear to your eyes.”
— Peter Schwotzer, Famous Monsters Of Filmland

“Freeman has written a memorable tale of how our fears contribute to our creativity and what can happen if we wait too long to confront them. It is a touching and terrifying novel that will make an impression that will definitely last.”
— Barry Hunter, The Baryon Review

“Freeman’s The Painted Darkness is a hauntingly beautiful tale exploring the thin line between fantasy and reality, which is so often broken in the creative process… Freeman’s narrative effortlessly straddles that of a young Henry when he first discovers the power of “painting against the darkness” and older, conflicted Henry, whose demons have finally demanded he face the past. What is real? What isn’t? A basement full of monsters? Legions of red-eyed, haunting rabbits? Freeman deftly handles a story which reveals itself in good time, and doesn’t leave the reader feeling cheated or hoodwinked at the end… Such a powerful theme Freeman delivers with this work, and perhaps the best answer to anyone who questions the validity and purpose of art and creativity in our daily lives: to combat the darkness and hold it at bay.”
—The Midnight Diner

“Quite possibly one of the darkest, most beautifully written books I’ve seen this year.”
— Paperback Horror

“…a stunning example of how a skilled writer can make just a few hours in a character’s life and leave readers spellbound… Freeman is a gifted writer. His descriptions vivid, the horror lurking in the shadows he creates unsettling, the novella is carefully crafted like Henry’s paintings… This story is not designed to make you jump, the horror here is subtle like the prose of a master like Poe or Hawthorne. It lingers long after you are done reading. Highly recommended, this ranks with some of the best literary thrillers I have read.”
— The Horror Review

“This book… is not to be missed. A well-written suspense tale that will frighten and touch.”
— Stillwater Public Library Newsletter, August 2010

“His writing oozes with classic Stephen King style. Brian’s pacing and storytelling were spot-on, invoking a sense of fear and chills as I read, and in the end he took me by surprise with a refreshing twist.”
— Daniel S. Boucher, The Novel Blog

“Brian James Freeman (who has previously published without his middle name) handles the story with a deftness that shows his talent. The reader is transported from the past to the present seamlessly as Freeman steers the story toward an understanding of the monsters that lurk in our world. Everyone is afraid of monsters and the things that go bump in our nightmares, but Freeman realizes that the reality is that real evil is much more horrific than the constructs of our mind. Henry is frantic to discover what is destroying the world around him as he races against his mind, and the monsters within and without, that threaten to destroy him, his family, and his world entirely. Henry has always used painting to hold the darkness at bay but the time has come for action now. This story is a great mix of psychological and supernatural horror that will hook the reader from the outset and not release him from its teeth until the final word.”
— Josef Hernandez, Minneapolis Books Examiner

Black Fire

“(a) highly readable horror debut….”
— Publishers Weekly

“(He) very cannily leaves every paranormal event open to interpretation, resulting in a book that can be looked at in one of several lights far into its final act…Overall, his craft is topnotch, using these motifs and themes to keep the book propelled along a very specific, frightening line. Even the setting of Black Hills, a long-dried-up mining town with a single, mostly empty movie theater, is used to accentuate the somber, self-reflective tone of the story.”
— Fangoria #236, September 2004

“This debut demonstrates much promise, utilizing an instantly readable and colloquial style—the sort Big Steve King employed with particular success in those golden early years—and artfully incorporating flashbacks and journal entries with present-day narrative.”
— The Day, New London, CT

“From the first page to the last, Black Fire is compulsive reading.”
— Douglas Clegg, New York Times bestselling author of The Priest of Blood

“Reading Freeman’s narrative is like watching that little valve on the top of a pressure-cooker, and wondering when the lid’s going to blow. You can sense all the energy and nastiness just barely being contained between the lines of his clean prose. Freeman writes with a sure hand and a grim vision. He has seen the essential pain of childhood and fully realized the horror into which it is transformed. Watch out for this guy…”
— Thomas F. Monteleone, winner of The New York Times Notable Book of the Year Award

“Watch the skies! Brian James Freeman is a bright new star on the horror horizon.”
— Al Sarrantonio, award-winning author of Toybox, Skeletons, and Orangefield

“Black Fire is tense, provocative, and burns with intensity!”
— Brian Keene, award-winning author of The Rising, No Rest for the Wicked, and Fear of Gravity

“Black Fire is a lonely, nightmarish journey, a book that will really get under your skin. Freeman never lets you see quite where he’s going… until it’s too late!”
— Christopher Golden, award-winning author of Strangewood, Straight On ’til Morning, and The Ferryman

“Brian James Freeman is one of the best of the young horror writers working today, and Black Fire should cement his reputation for writing solid, compelling fiction that grabs and holds the reader with cold, ever-tightening hands. Read this book and see what direction horror fiction will be going in this new millennium.”
— Rick Hautala, New York Times bestselling author of The Mountain King and Bedbugs

“Freeman manages to create a vivid inferno of terror in Black Fire, one that will sear itself into the soft tissues of your mind. This is a provocative, powerful, and startling portrait of a man on the edge of a nightmare, trapped by a bitter and furious past that refuses to let go.”

— Tom Piccirilli, author of The Night Class and A Lower Deep
“A vivid, suspenseful story. Black Fire packs a hell of a punch. Brian James Freeman’s accomplished mastery of prose deals out suspense and shocks aplenty.”
— Simon Clark, bestselling author of Night of the Triffids and Nailed by the Heart

“Brian James Freeman writes like a pro. His language is rich and descriptive, and its effect seems effortless: he snags you and draws you in. The story is vivid and alive from the very first page—that’s not an easy trick to pull off—and the promise is kept as the story develops, grows and becomes something very special. He also plays very effectively with timelines—again, not easy!—and the result is an absolute pleasure to read.”
— Tim Lebbon, author of Until She Sleeps and The Nature of Balance

“Dreamlike, suspenseful… with some of the most interesting characters I’ve come across in quite a while.”
— Hugh B. Cave, author of The Dawning and Drums of Revolt

“Visceral and ambitious, Brian James Freeman’s debut novel radiates with energy. Freeman is a writer to keep an eye on.”
— Del James, author of The Language of Fear

Blue November Storms

“Blue November Storms was an entertaining novella with more depth than many works of similar length available. If you like horror, especially horror that focuses on character, then this is one you’ll want to check out.”
— Amazing Stories

“It’s the depth of the novella I find most compelling. Beneath frenetic action are the underlying themes of sacrifice and destiny, as the author experiments with varying degrees of pressure to force his characters to their breaking-point… The ending will leave you stunned and shocked, but mostly it will make you think. Too few books do that anymore.”
— Michael McBride in the July 14, 2005 issue of Hellnotes

“The name of the work is Blue November Storms and it is quite simply the best nature run amok story that I have ever read… Brian’s writing style is very reminiscent of King’s as he creates very real, very true characters that we can all relate to. We have all known the guys that we share this story with, they are our friends, our family and when they hurt, we hurt and when they are scared, we are scared… I was totally transfixed by this story… I just could not put it down and I had to see how it all worked out.”
— Dave Dreher, creature-corner.com

“Slowly, steadily, quietly, Brian Freeman has been sneaking up on the horror fiction genre… As with any Brian Freeman story, there is more to Blue November Storms than any mere rundown of the plot can describe. His fiction ripples with facets and provides the reader with much to contemplate after the pages are turned. They aren’t simple stories and the reader always gets more than his or her money’s worth. For the last few years, I’ve predicted that Brian will be one of the genre’s biggest talents and Blue November Storms is further evidence of this certainty.”
— Mark Sieber, Horror World

Reviews and Praise for the other writings of Brian James Freeman

“There is a great temptation to discuss and describe each one of the astounding tales in Brian James Freeman’s latest collection of short stories but to do that would diminish the profound impact each one will have on readers who must discover the hope and the darkness themselves. What I can say is that each will leave you greatly moved and a bit disoriented, as a truth is uncovered, a hope is concealed, a terror is faced, a horror is revealed.”
— Ron McLarty

“Brian produces melancholy and chilling stories. Isolation is the constant theme. Physical and mental isolation. The hardy pulp theme of one man triumphing over great odds works for most writers but doesn’t seem to appeal to him. But for all the skill and artistry Brian’s work never cheats the reader looking for pure entertainment. I am an enthusiastic admirer of Brian James Freeman’s work.”
— Ed Gorman

“Brian James Freeman’s ‘Under the Halloween Tree’ is a bittersweet portrait of a young boy’s first inkling that time changes everything, even the rituals of a beloved holiday.”
— Blu Gilliand, Dark Scribe Magazine, reviewing Halloween: New Poems edited by Al Sarrantonio

“Mr. Freeman is a master of quiet horror and he is masterful at making the reader feel. Many of his stories will leave you with questions and unease, but this is obviously what the author wants, and it works so well! He takes the reader on the ride, and then jumps out of the car that is careening toward the readers own conclusions. Many of his stories have left me breathless, fidgety, and yet fully satisfied. I love dwelling in their worlds for hours after I’ve finished.”
— FEARnet.com

“(he) captures the potential fury and bloody destruction of the End Time.”
— Library Journal

“The Suicide Diary reminds me of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History. Daniel’s compulsion to get to the truth becomes the reader’s quest as well.”
— Stewart O’Nan, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Country and Last Night at the Lobster

“Love the name, the premise, the execution… This is one of the most truly original stories I’ve read in a long time.”
— Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean and Now You See Her

“Brian James Freeman’s account of a small town’s dark secrets — and of one young man’s attempt to free himself from his inner demons—is a riveting tale. At once ghost story and psychological thriller, it will keep readers turning the pages well into the wee hours of the morning.”
— Robin Furth, author of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance

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