Urban legends come to life
Killer on the road 3.5⭐️/5
The babysitter lives 3⭐️/5
These two stories bring a twist to two of the biggest urban legends, what happens to the babysitter when a stranger calls and why we don’t pick up hitchhikers.
Killer on the road is a Jeppers Creepers meets Joyride. With this story I felt it was repeating over and over again. Wish there was more lore to Bucketmouth. Also very gruesome! The eyeball scene towards the end was disgusting, especially who Bucketmouth turned into for that scene.
The Babysitter Lives had a very strong start and sadly fell into a completely confusing mind break. I lost what was happening. It’s Turning of the Screw/Haunting of Hill House meets Mama(2013)
#BookReview #killerontheroad #babysitterlives #bookstagram #horrorbooks
Reading Stephen Graham Jones’ works like Killer on the Road and The Babysitter Lives truly brings to life the eerie tension embedded in urban legends. As someone who’s always been fascinated by the folklore of babysitters and hitchhikers, these stories offered a fresh and unsettling perspective. Killer on the Road especially stood out with its visceral horror elements, notably the grotesque eyeball scene that left a lasting impression. While some parts felt repetitive, the transformation of the antagonist, Bucketmouth, added a unique layer of terror that deviates from typical slasher narratives. It made me reconsider just how much darkness can hide beneath seemingly mundane roadside encounters. On the other hand, The Babysitter Lives captured the creeping dread associated with the classic “stranger on the phone” legend but then ventured into surreal psychological territory. Its blend of haunted house vibes reminiscent of The Turn of the Screw and Mama creates a dreamlike yet unsettling atmosphere. Although the plot twist got confusing at times, it deepened the mystery and made me reflect on the boundaries between reality and imagination. Both books reminded me why urban legends persist—they tap into our primal fears around safety and the unknown. Through these novels, Jones expands these tales into something more complex, blending gore and psychological horror. If you're interested in horror that explores the layers behind familiar myths, these books are worth diving into. They also highlight why we’re instinctively wary of picking up hitchhikers or answering strange calls during the night—sometimes, the stories behind those fears are far more real than we realize.