Silent Nights hide deadly secrets, sometimes it’s more than the halls that get decked and Christmas isn’t always merry. For some, Christmas is a scary and lonely time, full of regret, sadness and pain. Memories rush to the surface that should stay buried, circumstances change and revenge sounds like the best present of all.

The tales in this Circle 8 Writers short story anthology shine a light on the darker side of Christmas. They show us that sometimes family ties get tangled, that no matter how old the grudge, punishment still feels good, and that there are creatures out and about during the holidays who wish anything but peace and joy.