“WELCOME TO HISTORIC RENFIELD COUNTY.”

There’s Edenville College, with its sunflowers and nearby ice cream shop. There are roads that take you on a winding route beneath overhanging trees. There’s even a lake nearby.

Renfield County delivers everything the brochures promise, and more. It’s a great place to find your zen. You may come away feeling like a whole new you.

I hear Harv’s got an opening at his diner if you’re looking for work. It’s a great place to meet the locals; they’re an eclectic bunch.

There’s arts and crafts, and if you’re looking for a quirky souvenir, I’d recommend the cheery aprons. If you ask nicely, Ellie may even show you her collection of ceramic figurines.

If you’re into antiques, this is the place for you. The woodwork in this place is to die for.

This collection of short stories gave me everything I loved about Edenville. Go Crows! It also introduced me to even more locals I’m not likely to forget in a hurry and fleshed out the Renfield history I’d been craving.

“History infects everything.”

There are stories of deep despair and loneliness, and a reminder that the past is always lurking, ready to pounce on the present.

The body horror is absolutely delicious, the twists and turns are positively deadly and my need to spend even more time in Renfield County is growing. Some might say it’s spreading like a stain…

I tend to have mixed luck with short stories so approach them with a mixture of dread and cautious optimism these days. There’s nothing poorly made about this collection, though. There wasn’t a bad one in the bunch. My favourite was the first story.

Hector Brim evoked the same feelings Roald Dahl’s short stories gave me when I was likely too young to be reading them. They tasted of forbidden fruit taste and the reveals, which probably should have given me the urge to turn away, delighted me. Life has gotten in the way recently and this story rekindled in me the joy of escaping into another world.

And that, of course, is where things get weird.”

Yes, I sent test emails to Rachel and Tom’s email addresses. No, they didn’t bounce back, but neither responded. Perhaps they’ve had other things on their minds.

Handy hint: don’t forget to feed the cats on Thursday.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I love horror collections and I have to say this one was fantastic. I also must confess I was not aware this was a tag on to a series already out there (I have started the books now) but I found it didn’t hamper my enjoyment overall at all. Rebelein is fantastic at weaving horror into the world and particularly Renfield County. I liked all the stories and couldn’t overly pick a favourite but it is safe to say that I am hooked now. I will certainly be reading all Rebelein puts out in the future as well as the works already out there.

As always thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

I know it’s only January, but I can see this becoming my favourite short story collection of the year!I could read short horror stories all day long and never tire of them. This is the first book I’ve read by Sam, and I’m already running to the store to buy his first novel. I guarantee it won’t be the last! Each story kept me on the edge of my seat and made me feel uncomfortable, squeamish, and creeped out.

Hear me out here, these stories gave me Twin Peaks vibes. The way the whole place had something not quite right about it. I loved how the stories in a way were all connected to each other! Some of my favourites were, Hector Brim, My Name Was Ellie, Wag, So My Cousin Knew This Guy, Allison’s Face.


“When you’re curious, you gotta be a little evil. Right? What’s science without a few dissected frogs? To learn about something, you gotta tear it apart.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan for my ARC!

Originally written as the first book of the Renfield county books, it was published after 'Edenville' - a decision that makes sense, as the reader is perfectly aware of the creepy otherworldly trappings of this particular piece of fictional New England. I loved "Edenville," and I enjoyed "All the Poory Mae Things" nearly as much. We learn more of the Giant, the Renfield murders itself, we track the infamous barnwood, and even visit Edenville college again. Cannot wait for more Renfield county reading material!

I’m rather sad I’ve finished this book. It was such a welcome return to Renfield County and Edenville that I could neither put down yet didn’t want to ever stop.

I loved Edenville, the first book that introduced us to the county and town soaked in blood, myth, horror and legend. The stories began in murder, the daubing of the 'Renfield Giant' in blood on a barn wall; and then the looting of parts and detritus of the scene.

Evil gets scattered throughout the area and with those outside of the area for nearly a century thereafter, leaving a visceral trail ensconced in otherworldliness.

This time round, we have a book containing a sprawling collection of separate stories with the common theme of each being touched by the blood of the Renfield wood; yet woven together by the ongoing yet unreciprocated email trail of a sister contacting her estranged brother – also linked by the area, the wood and shared trauma.

All beautifully written, the stories range from a few minutes to the best part of an hour, so will please the anthology lovers; yet have the familiarity of an interconnecting history that makes it feel like the one story. I’d also suggest you don’t have to have had read Edenville to read this - but I’m confident you’ll feel compelled to read it once you’ve finished The Poorly Made & Other Things.

Intelligent and gory, captivating yet horrifying, weird yet believable; Sam Rebelein pulls no punches and hides no cuts, slashes, viscera or face theft. Like a character? Say goodbye to them because no one is safe. An absolute joy and honour to read.

Thank you, Titan Books and Sam Rebelein for the ARC read.

Much like the cursed Renfield wood with its unsuspecting owners, I devoured this book with a mix of glee and horror. Rebelein masterfully crafts the haunting tapestry of Renfield County, where terror seeps from the ground into the everyday lives of its unfortunate residents.

The collection starts innocently enough, the first story lulling you in with its eerie charm before diving right into the gory details, letting you know it’s going to be *that* kind of horror book. So My Cousin Knew This Guy and Allison’s Face, had me visibly squirming, whilst feeling desperately sorry for both Bill and Brin. The chilling narrative style, accompanied by the email correspondence, makes you feel like you’re uncovering the madness one dreadful message at a time.

A word of warning: once you enter Renfield County, you’ll leave with shivers, and a newfound paranoia towards secondhand furniture.

I LOVE short story collections (especially horror!) and this is a unique collection of horror tales that leans heavily into the grotesque and absurd. While the stories often succeed in creating an unsettling atmosphere, the tone sometimes feels uneven, with certain pieces overshadowing others in terms of impact. The writing is inventive, but the thematic connections between stories can feel loose, leaving the collection feeling more disjointed than cohesive. That said, fans of visceral, experimental horror may find a lot to appreciate, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing for everyone. A mixed bag, but worth a read for the daring.

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this! Some stories were better than others and sometimes the writing felt a little confusing, but overall it was a great spooky set of horror stories. I particularly enjoyed the first and second chapters and I also enjoyed the inclusion of emails to make it all feel more real.