As I mentioned in my 2025 book recommendations post, one of my goals this year is to read more books from indie writers and publishers. Through my time on Threads, I ended up winning a giveaway from Graveside Press for their anthology Soul. Since I was traveling and wanted to save space, I decided to check out some of their digital releases on the Kobo store (yes, they’re on Kobo, which is awesome for me!), which led me to A Mortuary for Songs by Elizabeth Guilt. This short story is part of Graveside Press’ Tiny Terrors series, an umbrella of short horror stories and novellas.
This story follows Stuart, a high schooler obsessed with music. He meets Heather, a girl who shares his passion, and the two begin swapping cassette tapes—favorite albums, mix tapes—bonding through the music. As a music lover myself, this brought back memories of sharing songs and albums with friends, and how deeply personal that can be. But this isn’t just a nostalgic love letter to music. There’s an underlying eeriness surrounding Heather, an unsettling strangeness that makes you question what’s really happening. The story slowly builds this tension, keeping you hooked until the very end—and even after finishing, you’ll find yourself thinking about it, wanting more.
I absolutely loved A Mortuary for Songs. While it’s not the type of horror that jumps out and scares you, there’s a quiet unease woven into the narrative, making it the perfect blend of unsettling and beautiful. It’s a story that lingers.
If you love horror, reading, and music (bonus points if you’re from the cassette tape era), this is a must-read. It’s available at most retailers, and digitally, you can find it on both Amazon and Kobo for just $0.99—well worth the price for such a compelling story.
Stuart mentions owning The Cure on tape. One of my first albums was Weezer’s Blue Album. Do you remember the first cassette or CD you owned?
And if you have any indie book recommendations, I’d love to hear them—drop a comment and let me know!
Cole Talks Books 
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