What do you think?
Rate this book
Stirring the Sheets
An elderly funeral home worker, struggling with the loss of his wife, finds an unnatural attraction to a corpse at work resembling his late bride in her younger years.
A story of desperation, loneliness and letting go.
A story of desperation, loneliness and letting go.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2018
About the author
Chad Lutzke
84 books725 followersChad has written for Famous Monsters of Filmland, Rue Morgue, Cemetery Dance, and Scream magazine. He's had dozens of short stories published, and some of his books include: OF FOSTER HOMES & FLIES, STIRRING THE SHEETS, SKULLFACE BOY, THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU, THE PALE WHITE, THE NEON OWL and OUT BEHIND THE BARN co-written with John Boden. Lutzke's work has been praised by authors Jack Ketchum, Richard Chizmar, Joe R. Lansdale, Stephen Graham Jones, Tim Waggoner and his own mother.
He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com
He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
September 15, 2023
I'd previously read The Pale White and Of Foster Homes And Flies by Chad Lutzke and they were both great, this one wasn't as good. The story is of a widower working in a funeral home, who steals the body of a woman resembling his late wife and takes her home. We are meant to feel sympathy for him, his grief and devastation are well described, (hence the 3 stars) but, what he did was still heinous. I suppose we are expected to be ok with everything and still be rooting for him, as there wasn't actually any necrophilia? Hmmmm.
July 13, 2024
‘What good are pearly whites, if you’ve got no one to smile for?’ This was a very meaningful and sweet story. I’ve read so many books in 2021 that have unsavory and unforgivable things done to dead bodies, that I really yearned this to be much different. And it was. I was waiting for some kind of horrific twist to happen, but, while a few things were teased, they never came to fruition. Emmett is just an average guy mourning the loss of his wife of fifty years. He was content with his simple life for so long and then she, being a large part of it, was gone. The story does a nice job of keeping Emmett’s feelings clear and relatable, and you genuinely want to see him find a way out of his depression. And the ending is just so satisfying to see for his character, that it makes you smile. I think this would have begun to drag, if it was any longer, but it comes in at just under one hundred pages, so that was not an issue. This is my second outing with Chad Lutzke, but I really look forward to more of his works after this.
April 9, 2018
STIRRING THE SHEETS is a novella by Chad Lutzke that left me wrung out on the floor, but in a good way!
When Emmett loses his wife of 50 years, he has a hard time getting over his grief. He seems fine to most of the outside world-he's eating, he goes to work at the mortuary and he talks to his neighbors, both the nice one and the not so nice one. His neighbors don't know that Emmett hasn't touched the sheets on his bed since his wife passed, instead he sleeps on the couch. There are a few other things they don't know as well, but the author has to tell you those himself.
The grief in this book is palpable. I felt like I could reach out and touch it. (In this way, STIRRING THE SHEETS brought to mind the grief I felt when reading OF FOSTER HOMES AND FLIES last year.) I've been married for almost 33 years now and I can't imagine losing my spouse after such a long time. The things that people do when overcome by grief can be terrible and hard to understand. I think I understand Emmett and what he did, though. I wonder if you can?
Over the past several years I've developed a fondness for both Chad Lutzke and John Boden, (John wrote the touching and heartfelt introduction for this book). They have a writing style all their own, both completely individual but recognizable. This novella is all Chad's. All the grief, all the poignancy, and that little bit of hope? They're all Chad's.
My highest recommendation to any fan of dark fiction!
Available on Friday the 13th or pre-order here: Stirring the Sheets
*I was provided an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.
When Emmett loses his wife of 50 years, he has a hard time getting over his grief. He seems fine to most of the outside world-he's eating, he goes to work at the mortuary and he talks to his neighbors, both the nice one and the not so nice one. His neighbors don't know that Emmett hasn't touched the sheets on his bed since his wife passed, instead he sleeps on the couch. There are a few other things they don't know as well, but the author has to tell you those himself.
The grief in this book is palpable. I felt like I could reach out and touch it. (In this way, STIRRING THE SHEETS brought to mind the grief I felt when reading OF FOSTER HOMES AND FLIES last year.) I've been married for almost 33 years now and I can't imagine losing my spouse after such a long time. The things that people do when overcome by grief can be terrible and hard to understand. I think I understand Emmett and what he did, though. I wonder if you can?
Over the past several years I've developed a fondness for both Chad Lutzke and John Boden, (John wrote the touching and heartfelt introduction for this book). They have a writing style all their own, both completely individual but recognizable. This novella is all Chad's. All the grief, all the poignancy, and that little bit of hope? They're all Chad's.
My highest recommendation to any fan of dark fiction!
Available on Friday the 13th or pre-order here: Stirring the Sheets
*I was provided an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.
January 30, 2019
STIRRING THE SHEETS is the first novella I have read by author Chad Lutzke. After finishing this one in a single sitting, I am so glad I already have two additional books of his in my TBR pile to read next!
I'll admit, I've seen a lot of great reviews for various works by this author, but nothing prepared me for the emotional impact his writing would have on me! This is the story of a man named Emmett, who lost his wife of 50 years, one year ago. You might think that working in a mortuary--The Griffin Funeral Home--would have inured him somewhat to the inevibility of death, but Lutzke takes us beyond the surface, deep into the very soul of our main character.
". . . Problem is, he hasn't moved on at all . . . "
The words flow right into your mind, immediately giving you an open-window view of Emmett's mental state. His attachment to his wife was so beautiful, and yet, it is precisely this attachment that is holding him back from moving forward. He simply "exists".
". . . It's about surviving, when all you want to do is wake up dead."
The characterization was fantastic in regards to all the characters, not just Emmett. We have his well-meaning neighbor, the widow across the street; the "juvenile delinquent", Julian, also across the street; his boss; and junior co-worker, Chet. All of these people play significant parts in shaping our main character, even though every episode is not spelled out for you. We learn by "show", rather than "tell"--even if most of the show is in the form of Emmett's recollections of his past and reflections on his present.
". . . It doesn't take much to threaten a cry anymore . . . It has everything to do with being alone."
When Emmet is suddenly spurred into an unimaginable, shocking action, it comes off as not only believable, but almost "acceptable" based on how much we already know of his mindset. From a horrifying thought, with the magic of Lutzke's words, the incident becomes an emotional--almost tender--moment for a while. Of course, the eventual repercussions still sink into our minds, but for some time, we are able to feel the way Emmett, himself does--at least, partially. And during that intimate time, we are actually "thinking and feeling" our character's own thoughts.
" . . . This is coping . . . "
Overall, I am still astounded by the emotional punch this little novella packed, and how intensely it made me feel inside--both for Emmett, and for the void in his life that he felt could never be made whole. Lutzke has a writing style that not only interested me, but pulled me into the story and life of Emmett 100%. There was no impatience in reading this, no skimming, but an actual desire on my part to linger upon every printed word.
"'You don't need to check upon me . . . God blessed me with another day.'
Was it a blessing?"
At the end of the novella, it was as if a spell had been lifted, and I was once again in my own reality. After this one book alone, Chad Lutzke has another fan.
Highest recommendation!
I'll admit, I've seen a lot of great reviews for various works by this author, but nothing prepared me for the emotional impact his writing would have on me! This is the story of a man named Emmett, who lost his wife of 50 years, one year ago. You might think that working in a mortuary--The Griffin Funeral Home--would have inured him somewhat to the inevibility of death, but Lutzke takes us beyond the surface, deep into the very soul of our main character.
". . . Problem is, he hasn't moved on at all . . . "
The words flow right into your mind, immediately giving you an open-window view of Emmett's mental state. His attachment to his wife was so beautiful, and yet, it is precisely this attachment that is holding him back from moving forward. He simply "exists".
". . . It's about surviving, when all you want to do is wake up dead."
The characterization was fantastic in regards to all the characters, not just Emmett. We have his well-meaning neighbor, the widow across the street; the "juvenile delinquent", Julian, also across the street; his boss; and junior co-worker, Chet. All of these people play significant parts in shaping our main character, even though every episode is not spelled out for you. We learn by "show", rather than "tell"--even if most of the show is in the form of Emmett's recollections of his past and reflections on his present.
". . . It doesn't take much to threaten a cry anymore . . . It has everything to do with being alone."
When Emmet is suddenly spurred into an unimaginable, shocking action, it comes off as not only believable, but almost "acceptable" based on how much we already know of his mindset. From a horrifying thought, with the magic of Lutzke's words, the incident becomes an emotional--almost tender--moment for a while. Of course, the eventual repercussions still sink into our minds, but for some time, we are able to feel the way Emmett, himself does--at least, partially. And during that intimate time, we are actually "thinking and feeling" our character's own thoughts.
" . . . This is coping . . . "
Overall, I am still astounded by the emotional punch this little novella packed, and how intensely it made me feel inside--both for Emmett, and for the void in his life that he felt could never be made whole. Lutzke has a writing style that not only interested me, but pulled me into the story and life of Emmett 100%. There was no impatience in reading this, no skimming, but an actual desire on my part to linger upon every printed word.
"'You don't need to check upon me . . . God blessed me with another day.'
Was it a blessing?"
At the end of the novella, it was as if a spell had been lifted, and I was once again in my own reality. After this one book alone, Chad Lutzke has another fan.
Highest recommendation!
November 13, 2018
Chad Lutzke has done it again. If you've read, OF FOSTER HOMES AND FLIES or SKULLFACE BOY, you know what I mean. Lutzke has this way about storytelling that feels very much like he has developed a special way to penetrate past the page to hijack his readers' emotions.
Almost immediately, through careful character building, Lutzke begins to build bridges from his protagonist to my heart. These bridges are the means in which the words just walk right off the page. And sometimes, nothing really significant is happening there but these quiet story moments. For example, the main character Emmet, sits down to eat breakfast and he's having eggs & toast with a bowl of Grape Nuts covered in honey. My heart grabs at this because I eat my Grape Nuts covered in honey. And it's these details that feel so intimate, so specific, that they get in to your mind and you find yourself in relationship with the characters-their pain is your pain, their shoes are your shoes...it's very dangerous because you can feel your heart being tugged on and you know that at any moment, Lutzke has the ability to rip apart the seams and let everything spill out.
And this was THAT.
A very sad, quiet story that feels far too authentic to be fictional. It's tragic, beautiful and overwhelmingly hard hitting on the emotions. But I wouldn't have it any other way. It's what I've come to expect from this author and I keep showing up for it--you should too. It feels good to feel your feelings, sometimes.
Almost immediately, through careful character building, Lutzke begins to build bridges from his protagonist to my heart. These bridges are the means in which the words just walk right off the page. And sometimes, nothing really significant is happening there but these quiet story moments. For example, the main character Emmet, sits down to eat breakfast and he's having eggs & toast with a bowl of Grape Nuts covered in honey. My heart grabs at this because I eat my Grape Nuts covered in honey. And it's these details that feel so intimate, so specific, that they get in to your mind and you find yourself in relationship with the characters-their pain is your pain, their shoes are your shoes...it's very dangerous because you can feel your heart being tugged on and you know that at any moment, Lutzke has the ability to rip apart the seams and let everything spill out.
And this was THAT.
A very sad, quiet story that feels far too authentic to be fictional. It's tragic, beautiful and overwhelmingly hard hitting on the emotions. But I wouldn't have it any other way. It's what I've come to expect from this author and I keep showing up for it--you should too. It feels good to feel your feelings, sometimes.
December 13, 2020
Another brilliant novella by this extremely talented author. This time we meet a character named Emmeth Irving. He's working as a mortician and we come to know how corpses of the deceased are properly prepared (detailed and eerie). Emmeth doesn't get over the loss of his beloved wife Kate in a car accident. He's mourning for over a year. Even his neighbor Rose, a widow herself, can't get him out of his awful condition. The situation changes when he takes away a corpse from the funeral home he works at. This unknown woman resembles his former wife. Will she help him to overcome his grief? What a gripping groundbreaking tale. Okay, it's a bid morbid and necrophiliac but there's a great twist at the end. "Death didn't just steal away his bride, it stole rationale, mental health, and hope." Great story for everyone who ever suffered a loss (who hasn't) and those looking for new perspectives. What a stirring tale. Highly recommended!
July 10, 2021
With each book I've read, I found Lutzke pushing the envelope. Child neglect, normal vs. abnormal, loneliness. In the midst of each there is always perseverance. Here it is grief. Stretching the limits of what one may do because of it, or not do, and somehow I believe.
May 1, 2020
This little book sure does pack one hell of a punch! It’s heartbreakingly beautiful while also being just the right amount of creepy and morbid. Everything about it just tugged at my emotions in the most perfect way. I went through the full spectrum, from near tears to horror to pity and everything in between. Emmett is a character you can’t help but feel for and become emotionally involved with, he just grabs at your heart. I really couldn’t have loved this little novella more, hands down one of my favourite reads so far this year!
January 10, 2019
This is my 4th book by Chad Lutzke (the third being his fantastic collaboration with John Boden for Out Behind the Barn) and no matter how many times I write a review for him, I never feel like it's good enough or that it articulates everything I need to say.
Lutzke gets people. And he is keenly aware of human emotions. He can put himself inside the mind of both a young boy and an elderly man with a skill that is unparalleled. In Stirring the Sheets, we see the world through the eyes of an elderly funeral home worker who is unable to accept his wife's death.
Emmett is really only just existing. After the passing of his wife, he spends his days overcome with grief and living in a home that has become a shrine to his beloved. He works at a funeral home, and so he is constantly surrounded by death. Afraid to move on, Emmett doesn't want to overcome his grief because it feels like a betrayal, and so he's stuck in a loop of not really living but just getting by. One day a body arrives at the funeral home that looks like his wife's twin when she was younger. Emmett, drowning in grief, then makes a decision that makes the reader both uncomfortable and deeply sympathetic.
Lutzke writes about death and grief with what feels like a very intimate knowledge. As the reader, you feel Emmett's grief so deeply, that his decision almost makes sense. You certainly don't feel as if you can judge him. What can a man do when he has nothing left to live for? Lutzke explores that, and allows Emmett to come to his own realizations. I loved the ending of this book. I've said this before, but Lutzke takes the reader to some very dark places in his fiction, but there's always a light at the end of his stories. And that's what makes these stories so special. Lutzke explores the darker sides of life, but then gives the reader something to hope for. And that makes his stories so amazing.
Lutzke gets people. And he is keenly aware of human emotions. He can put himself inside the mind of both a young boy and an elderly man with a skill that is unparalleled. In Stirring the Sheets, we see the world through the eyes of an elderly funeral home worker who is unable to accept his wife's death.
Emmett is really only just existing. After the passing of his wife, he spends his days overcome with grief and living in a home that has become a shrine to his beloved. He works at a funeral home, and so he is constantly surrounded by death. Afraid to move on, Emmett doesn't want to overcome his grief because it feels like a betrayal, and so he's stuck in a loop of not really living but just getting by. One day a body arrives at the funeral home that looks like his wife's twin when she was younger. Emmett, drowning in grief, then makes a decision that makes the reader both uncomfortable and deeply sympathetic.
Lutzke writes about death and grief with what feels like a very intimate knowledge. As the reader, you feel Emmett's grief so deeply, that his decision almost makes sense. You certainly don't feel as if you can judge him. What can a man do when he has nothing left to live for? Lutzke explores that, and allows Emmett to come to his own realizations. I loved the ending of this book. I've said this before, but Lutzke takes the reader to some very dark places in his fiction, but there's always a light at the end of his stories. And that's what makes these stories so special. Lutzke explores the darker sides of life, but then gives the reader something to hope for. And that makes his stories so amazing.
July 13, 2019
5.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/pSSOe4gOEwo
Don't underestimate this little book! It will sneak up and gut punch you in the emotional feels.
This story is not exactly horror by the classic, stereotypical definition. With a melancholy tone, this story is more likely to make you cry than terrify you. In just a short number of pages, the story explores themes of grief, aging and human connection in an incredibly nuanced way. I usually prefer my stories devoid of sappy emotions, but this quirky, bittersweet narrative pulled on the strings of my cold heart.
As a novella, this story was the perfect length. The narrative was subtle and quiet, which normally would not work for me. Yet, in this case, I loved it. I read this one very slowly because I wanted to savor every sentence. Lutzke's prose was straightforward, yet remarkable powerful.
I was particularly fascinated by the chapters where we learned how bodies are prepared for funerals. Of course, the manipulation and sewing of skin always appeals to my personal love of body horror. However, these sections were written tastefully enough so that squirmish readers will not be too uncomfortable.
I would highly recommend this emotionally-charged story to a wide range of readers, including those who do not normally pick up horror. This is the kind of book that really transcends genre classification. Honestly, anyone who has ever loved and lost will connect with this deeply affecting narrative.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher, Bloodshot Books.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/pSSOe4gOEwo
Don't underestimate this little book! It will sneak up and gut punch you in the emotional feels.
This story is not exactly horror by the classic, stereotypical definition. With a melancholy tone, this story is more likely to make you cry than terrify you. In just a short number of pages, the story explores themes of grief, aging and human connection in an incredibly nuanced way. I usually prefer my stories devoid of sappy emotions, but this quirky, bittersweet narrative pulled on the strings of my cold heart.
As a novella, this story was the perfect length. The narrative was subtle and quiet, which normally would not work for me. Yet, in this case, I loved it. I read this one very slowly because I wanted to savor every sentence. Lutzke's prose was straightforward, yet remarkable powerful.
I was particularly fascinated by the chapters where we learned how bodies are prepared for funerals. Of course, the manipulation and sewing of skin always appeals to my personal love of body horror. However, these sections were written tastefully enough so that squirmish readers will not be too uncomfortable.
I would highly recommend this emotionally-charged story to a wide range of readers, including those who do not normally pick up horror. This is the kind of book that really transcends genre classification. Honestly, anyone who has ever loved and lost will connect with this deeply affecting narrative.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher, Bloodshot Books.
October 24, 2021
Very short, quick and easy read with big font, I enjoyed this a lot. This novella is really growing on me and it was a great starting point in the world of Chad Lutzke.
The story is simple, mortician sneaks a dead body out of his funeral home because it reminds him of a younger version of his deceased wife. I can’t really say it’s easy to sympathize with him because what he’s doing is very taboo. You feel his pain and grief but it’s up to you whether you sympathize with him or not. I did not!
Was it worth paying for? I don’t know honestly. If you can download it on kindle go ahead but I don’t know if it was worth the physical copy. I think this should’ve been part of a collection or at least cheaper.
The story is simple, mortician sneaks a dead body out of his funeral home because it reminds him of a younger version of his deceased wife. I can’t really say it’s easy to sympathize with him because what he’s doing is very taboo. You feel his pain and grief but it’s up to you whether you sympathize with him or not. I did not!
Was it worth paying for? I don’t know honestly. If you can download it on kindle go ahead but I don’t know if it was worth the physical copy. I think this should’ve been part of a collection or at least cheaper.
January 28, 2019
"It's about surviving when all you want to do is wake up dead."
Holy hell, this book was sad. A couple nights ago, I worked a double shift, was in a bad mood, decided to start this one, and then found myself ugly crying on my couch at 2 AM. THANKS, CHAD LUTZKE.
Chad's brand of horror is unique. It's not in your face, and it probably won't "scare" you while you're reading it, but it will haunt you. He's incredibly skilled at writing about tragedy with a horror aspect, and they will creep up on you.
This book hurt my heart, and I loved it. The core of this book is about loneliness and grief, and I think everyone can grasp the pain that the main character is experiencing. The ending was so bittersweet, and this story is so well-written. Thank you to the Nightworms for putting this one in the January box.
Holy hell, this book was sad. A couple nights ago, I worked a double shift, was in a bad mood, decided to start this one, and then found myself ugly crying on my couch at 2 AM. THANKS, CHAD LUTZKE.
Chad's brand of horror is unique. It's not in your face, and it probably won't "scare" you while you're reading it, but it will haunt you. He's incredibly skilled at writing about tragedy with a horror aspect, and they will creep up on you.
This book hurt my heart, and I loved it. The core of this book is about loneliness and grief, and I think everyone can grasp the pain that the main character is experiencing. The ending was so bittersweet, and this story is so well-written. Thank you to the Nightworms for putting this one in the January box.
January 10, 2019
Well, Chad Lutzke did it again. I purchased this for my Kindle while I was reading his upcoming release, The Same Deep Water as You (coming January 11th. Definitely check it out) and although I have a ton of other books that currently need my attention, I decided to start on this one because it was calling my name. I've seen a few people refer to this as a book about necrophilia, but I'm going to have to disagree. This is a short story about loss and what it does to you. Sometimes losing someone you love can leave you temporarily insane, and that is definitely what I feel the case was for our main character Emmett.
There was a book I read at the end of last year that made me more physically uncomfortable than anything I've ever read; Stirring The Sheets comes in a close second. I felt absolutely repulsed and incredibly upset throughout a good portion of the story, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. What I was feeling is what any normal humans reaction would be. I love an author who can make me FEEL, and Chad covered both the physical and emotional aspects of that beautifully. Having lost many people that I've loved throughout my life, I feel the author did a tremendous job at portraying what it's like to grieve. It's not always pretty, it's not always sane, and sometimes we do it all by ourselves. I think one of the most important lessons to be learned from Stirring The Sheets is that we're never alone in our grief. Everyone has or will experience loss and grief eventually, and it's important we let others in to help ourselves heal.
Overall I thought this was a beautiful short story that I couldn't pull myself away from. Chad Lutzke is incredibly talented, and I would and will be reading anything he has already published or will be publishing in the future.
There was a book I read at the end of last year that made me more physically uncomfortable than anything I've ever read; Stirring The Sheets comes in a close second. I felt absolutely repulsed and incredibly upset throughout a good portion of the story, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. What I was feeling is what any normal humans reaction would be. I love an author who can make me FEEL, and Chad covered both the physical and emotional aspects of that beautifully. Having lost many people that I've loved throughout my life, I feel the author did a tremendous job at portraying what it's like to grieve. It's not always pretty, it's not always sane, and sometimes we do it all by ourselves. I think one of the most important lessons to be learned from Stirring The Sheets is that we're never alone in our grief. Everyone has or will experience loss and grief eventually, and it's important we let others in to help ourselves heal.
Overall I thought this was a beautiful short story that I couldn't pull myself away from. Chad Lutzke is incredibly talented, and I would and will be reading anything he has already published or will be publishing in the future.
February 14, 2019
My Chad Lutzke binge-read continues with Stirring the Sheets, a book that was sent along in January's NIGHT WORMS package, which I suggest subscribing to if you haven't already. They pick some of the best horror books out there, and Stirring the Sheets is proof of that.
This novella follows Emmett, an elderly mortician who is grief-stricken after losing his wife of 49 years to a tragic car accident. When the cadaver of a young woman resembling his wife comes through the funeral home he works for, he takes her body home, hoping it'll bring some closure to his grieving.
I've heard a lot of people describe this book as being about necrophilia, but I feel describing it as such paints a false picture in peoples' minds of what to expect. For one, it isn't about having sex with a dead body. That never happens. Emmett doesn't take the body to have sex with it, he takes it because he misses his wife and the body happens to look just like she did when she was younger. He takes it home, dresses it in his wife's clothes, paints her nails, and talks to her. Is this wrong of him to do? Yes, and he knows that. Are there scenes that might make you uncomfortable? Indeed. This is a horror novel, after all. But are you going to be left feeling icky after reading this book. Absolutely not.
After finishing Stirring the Sheets, there is only one way to describe what I felt; content and peaceful. The feeling that, no matter how many loved ones I have lost or will lose, life never truly ends. Their memory stays intact forever, and the lives of those left behind can go on, opening new doors and possibilities. Sometimes closure means opening those doors, wiping your feet on the mat, and allowing yourself to be welcomed inside.
Stirring the Sheets packs a strong punch for its small size. Read it in one sitting, but be prepared; this is something special. Lutzke may even convince you to stir your own sheets, if need be.
This novella follows Emmett, an elderly mortician who is grief-stricken after losing his wife of 49 years to a tragic car accident. When the cadaver of a young woman resembling his wife comes through the funeral home he works for, he takes her body home, hoping it'll bring some closure to his grieving.
I've heard a lot of people describe this book as being about necrophilia, but I feel describing it as such paints a false picture in peoples' minds of what to expect. For one, it isn't about having sex with a dead body. That never happens. Emmett doesn't take the body to have sex with it, he takes it because he misses his wife and the body happens to look just like she did when she was younger. He takes it home, dresses it in his wife's clothes, paints her nails, and talks to her. Is this wrong of him to do? Yes, and he knows that. Are there scenes that might make you uncomfortable? Indeed. This is a horror novel, after all. But are you going to be left feeling icky after reading this book. Absolutely not.
After finishing Stirring the Sheets, there is only one way to describe what I felt; content and peaceful. The feeling that, no matter how many loved ones I have lost or will lose, life never truly ends. Their memory stays intact forever, and the lives of those left behind can go on, opening new doors and possibilities. Sometimes closure means opening those doors, wiping your feet on the mat, and allowing yourself to be welcomed inside.
Stirring the Sheets packs a strong punch for its small size. Read it in one sitting, but be prepared; this is something special. Lutzke may even convince you to stir your own sheets, if need be.
June 5, 2018
A super solid novella and my first read from Mr. Lutzke.
**Mildly Spoilery Content**
I’m glad Emmett didn’t do anything more with the "not-Kate" than he did. Having no previous experience with this author, I wasn’t sure where it was going to go and I kept expecting it to get super ugly, over the top. Glad it didn’t. It would have ruined a very good story about the far-out extremes that grief can take you and the redemptive qualities of meatloaf.
Looking forward to more from this author.
**Mildly Spoilery Content**
I’m glad Emmett didn’t do anything more with the "not-Kate" than he did. Having no previous experience with this author, I wasn’t sure where it was going to go and I kept expecting it to get super ugly, over the top. Glad it didn’t. It would have ruined a very good story about the far-out extremes that grief can take you and the redemptive qualities of meatloaf.
Looking forward to more from this author.
August 31, 2022
I love every book I have read by this author so far. This is not a horror novel. It is a short story about man who's wife dies in an accident. Sad but a great read.
May 10, 2022
"This is about hating yourself enough to go to extremes. It’s about surviving, when all you want to do is wake up dead."
Blog review: https://letsgetgalactic.com/2019/02/1...
Ouch, my heart.
This is my first book by Chad Lutzke, and it definitely won't be my last. Based on this alone, I signed up for his Patreon and purchased 2 other books - it's that good.
I love things that make me sad - like, the more devastating a book is, the more I'll love it, because it'll destroy me and for some weird reason, I like being wrecked by my literature.
I have "a lot of feelings", and reading about other people dealing with having a lot of feelings too makes me feel less alone, I guess? Loneliness is a funny thing.
Our protagonist in this story, Emmett, knows a thing or two about loneliness. After losing his wife, he struggles to find a reason to go on, and falls into a routine he relies on to get through his daily mourning. The sadness and grief that tinge every single aspect of Emmett's life are palpable things, almost characters in the story by themselves. You feel them in everything, from the way he wakes up in the morning to the way he shies away from anything resembling moving on from his beloved - it's so heartbreaking, and so real.
What stuns me the most about this is how well Lutzke's been able to tell such a full story in such a small package. With novellas, it can be hard to propel a character's development forward, and to even flesh them out enough to envision a future for them beyond the ending at all. For Lutzke to be able to do that - and more, honestly, in my opinion - in just 130 pages is amazing, and really puts this on another level for me.
Highly recommended, and I can't wait to read more by him!
Blog review: https://letsgetgalactic.com/2019/02/1...
Ouch, my heart.
This is my first book by Chad Lutzke, and it definitely won't be my last. Based on this alone, I signed up for his Patreon and purchased 2 other books - it's that good.
I love things that make me sad - like, the more devastating a book is, the more I'll love it, because it'll destroy me and for some weird reason, I like being wrecked by my literature.
I have "a lot of feelings", and reading about other people dealing with having a lot of feelings too makes me feel less alone, I guess? Loneliness is a funny thing.
Our protagonist in this story, Emmett, knows a thing or two about loneliness. After losing his wife, he struggles to find a reason to go on, and falls into a routine he relies on to get through his daily mourning. The sadness and grief that tinge every single aspect of Emmett's life are palpable things, almost characters in the story by themselves. You feel them in everything, from the way he wakes up in the morning to the way he shies away from anything resembling moving on from his beloved - it's so heartbreaking, and so real.
What stuns me the most about this is how well Lutzke's been able to tell such a full story in such a small package. With novellas, it can be hard to propel a character's development forward, and to even flesh them out enough to envision a future for them beyond the ending at all. For Lutzke to be able to do that - and more, honestly, in my opinion - in just 130 pages is amazing, and really puts this on another level for me.
Highly recommended, and I can't wait to read more by him!
January 19, 2019
My first read from the Night Worms January package and this little ditty packs a walloping punch. Emmett is a character you just feel for right from the beginning. How do you cope when the person you love has passed - where is your identity now when it's been tied to someone for so many years?
In a manner of just over 100 pages, Lutzke brings us through Emmett just living to live. Working in a mortuary for decades and taking care of the dead... how does he now take care of himself.... and we see him go through the various feelings... when he allows himself to feel.
Seriously, this does pulls on your heart strings. The ending is everything and while novellas sometimes tend to leave me wanting, this one satiates and I'm leaving a very happy girl.
In a manner of just over 100 pages, Lutzke brings us through Emmett just living to live. Working in a mortuary for decades and taking care of the dead... how does he now take care of himself.... and we see him go through the various feelings... when he allows himself to feel.
Seriously, this does pulls on your heart strings. The ending is everything and while novellas sometimes tend to leave me wanting, this one satiates and I'm leaving a very happy girl.
September 5, 2021
The feeling of loneliness seeps into this novella with every page, until the reader is smothered by it. There is no let up as we see how our protagonist deals with his or tries to deal with his all consuming grief and loneliness since his wife died.
The writing as always from Lutzke is stunning, the pages bleached with torment - sewn together with anguish and heartache. Not a cheery read by any sense of the word, but one that is powerful and honestly written.
The writing as always from Lutzke is stunning, the pages bleached with torment - sewn together with anguish and heartache. Not a cheery read by any sense of the word, but one that is powerful and honestly written.
February 7, 2022
A sad and sweet little story. I wouldn’t class this as horror at all.
August 8, 2018
Yet another wonderful novella from Chad. I am so impressed with is ability to tell such a relatable story even in the midst of a heavy and dark plot. The protagonist in this book makes such a drastic choice and yet we still feel for him. Chad writes grief so accurately and with details that are so impactful. Anyone who has lost a loved one will find something in this story that they recognize. The writing isn't superfluous, just matter-of-fact to the point that it feels like the author is telling me about something that happened to him, and it only adds authenticity to the characters. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a macabre and hard hitting story about love and loss.
Thanks so much to Chad for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thanks so much to Chad for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review!
May 5, 2018
A character-driven, emotional story that speaks to the struggle of dealing with the death of a loved one. More directly, the struggle of wanting to cling to the past, but at the same time knowing you need to move on. Lutzke does a great job describing Emmett's grim, somewhat shocking yet understandable, journey through this process.
July 17, 2018
This short novella packs a lot of punch. The emotional ride I just completed will take a while to shake off. My full review is post here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1DT
July 18, 2018
Good thing I'm a goth with a penchant for sorrow because many parts of STIRRING THE SHEETS were sad as hell. It's also a delightfully grotesque story with carefully crafted prose. Lutzke manages to elicit and maintain my sympathy for Emmett, the main character, even as he does something unthinkable to assuage his grief. The glimpse we get into Emmet's thoughts and the little gestures he makes to preserve memories of his departed are truly heartbreaking in their authenticity. I also enjoyed the punk references sprinkled throughout the tale, of course. It ended a bit abruptly for me and I thought, given the premise, that it would have been slightly more brutal in the horror department, but this book is its own little melancholy beast- nothing at all wrong with that. Unless you're super squeamish about graphic descriptions of corpse preservation techniques, I'd highly recommend you read this novella.
July 20, 2019
Whatever it takes to get through this storm, you do it.”
Not what I expected, but then again I’m really not sure what I expected. This is such a sad story that depicts loneliness and loss in its rawest form. I felt Emmett’s pain through the pages and really felt sympathy for him.
This is a must read! But I suggest you grab tissues prior to sitting down!
Now excuse me while I go look for more books by this amazing author!! His writing is on point!
Not what I expected, but then again I’m really not sure what I expected. This is such a sad story that depicts loneliness and loss in its rawest form. I felt Emmett’s pain through the pages and really felt sympathy for him.
This is a must read! But I suggest you grab tissues prior to sitting down!
Now excuse me while I go look for more books by this amazing author!! His writing is on point!
December 22, 2020
This is what happens when A Man Called Ove turns into a horror story.
May 21, 2019
I went into this expecting a touching story about death and grief, and I had seen reviews describing it as emotional and heart-wrenching. Unfortunately it didn't work for me.
Emmett is portrayed as an entirely sympathetic character and that his actions are totally understandable, and I couldn't get on board with that. I started out the story feeling sorry for him but my sympathy only lasted so long. My feelings were towards the woman whose body he treated as his property. These themes of objectification and men's entitlement to women's bodies are completely glossed over. Maybe I interpreted these elements differently to how the author intended but, despite trying, I couldn't read it any other way.
Stories about people doing horrible things can be fascinating, and when done right we can still feel sympathy towards these kinds of characters. But that was not the case for me here. Had Emmett's story involved more of a push and pull between these two sides to his character, a sweet old man grieving for his wife but who is capable of doing monstrous things, that could have been interesting. But the gravity and bigger meaning of these acts are not discussed. It's all purely for his benefit and the other side of the story is not even brought up.
Emmett is portrayed as an entirely sympathetic character and that his actions are totally understandable, and I couldn't get on board with that. I started out the story feeling sorry for him but my sympathy only lasted so long. My feelings were towards the woman whose body he treated as his property. These themes of objectification and men's entitlement to women's bodies are completely glossed over. Maybe I interpreted these elements differently to how the author intended but, despite trying, I couldn't read it any other way.
Stories about people doing horrible things can be fascinating, and when done right we can still feel sympathy towards these kinds of characters. But that was not the case for me here. Had Emmett's story involved more of a push and pull between these two sides to his character, a sweet old man grieving for his wife but who is capable of doing monstrous things, that could have been interesting. But the gravity and bigger meaning of these acts are not discussed. It's all purely for his benefit and the other side of the story is not even brought up.
December 30, 2020
Newly released in Kindle by Static Age Books, ‘Stirring the Sheets’ is a meditative and thought-provoking book and another in an increasingly impressive collection of works from the criminally underread Chad Lutzke.
Emmett is a widower in his seventies, still working a full-time job as a funeral worker. Having recently lost his wife of almost fifty years to a traffic accident, Emmett is struggling with depression, unable to move on with his life.
When a new body is brought into the funeral home, Emmett is shocked at the resemblance to his late wife, as he remembers her as a young woman. In a moment of weakness, he decides to bring the body home with him, but will this help him with his problems, or create a whole new set of them?
The first thing you should know about ‘Stirring the Sheets’ is that, despite the content, this is no Extreme Horror book. It is a quiet and meditative story about a man dealing with a loss and, while the circumstances in this book take a darkly outlandish turn, Lutzke’s focus here is on Emmett’s journey from despair to acceptance.
Emmett shuns any kind of human connection over guilt at the thought of moving on, yet is clearly not coping with being alone. For a story about the theft of a corpse, the real horror at work here is how trapped the protagonist is in a self-perpetuating cycle of sorrow as a result of a loved one being taken from them in an unexpected and violent way, and how easily he is able to mask all this from those around him.
The scenes where Emmett is preparing bodies at the funeral home are presented in a clinical, matter of fact manner, which becomes an eerie precursor for later in the story when Emmett makes the decision to take the body home with him. Despite this being such an unconscionable act and not one which the book takes any pains to justify or rationalise, Emmett is presented as a deeply sympathetic character, acting out of all too relatable pain and desperation. It is not the act itself which is the focus of the story, but rather what has happened to drive its lead to the point where they feel compelled to do it, and how they react once the act itself is done. Much like Lutzke’s equally impactful ‘Of Foster Homes and Flies’ it uses a terrible act to dive deep into the mind of somebody attempting to deal with something unthinkable.
If you can get past the subject matter, underneath is a tale about grief, simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting, that will take the reader through an array of emotions in less than 100 pages that few can manage at novel length. There is no other horror writer working today who can move so seamlessly between lifting your spirits and breaking you without mercy and ‘Stirring the Sheets’ is another example of Chad Lutzke demonstrating a mastery of his craft.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
Emmett is a widower in his seventies, still working a full-time job as a funeral worker. Having recently lost his wife of almost fifty years to a traffic accident, Emmett is struggling with depression, unable to move on with his life.
When a new body is brought into the funeral home, Emmett is shocked at the resemblance to his late wife, as he remembers her as a young woman. In a moment of weakness, he decides to bring the body home with him, but will this help him with his problems, or create a whole new set of them?
The first thing you should know about ‘Stirring the Sheets’ is that, despite the content, this is no Extreme Horror book. It is a quiet and meditative story about a man dealing with a loss and, while the circumstances in this book take a darkly outlandish turn, Lutzke’s focus here is on Emmett’s journey from despair to acceptance.
Emmett shuns any kind of human connection over guilt at the thought of moving on, yet is clearly not coping with being alone. For a story about the theft of a corpse, the real horror at work here is how trapped the protagonist is in a self-perpetuating cycle of sorrow as a result of a loved one being taken from them in an unexpected and violent way, and how easily he is able to mask all this from those around him.
The scenes where Emmett is preparing bodies at the funeral home are presented in a clinical, matter of fact manner, which becomes an eerie precursor for later in the story when Emmett makes the decision to take the body home with him. Despite this being such an unconscionable act and not one which the book takes any pains to justify or rationalise, Emmett is presented as a deeply sympathetic character, acting out of all too relatable pain and desperation. It is not the act itself which is the focus of the story, but rather what has happened to drive its lead to the point where they feel compelled to do it, and how they react once the act itself is done. Much like Lutzke’s equally impactful ‘Of Foster Homes and Flies’ it uses a terrible act to dive deep into the mind of somebody attempting to deal with something unthinkable.
If you can get past the subject matter, underneath is a tale about grief, simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting, that will take the reader through an array of emotions in less than 100 pages that few can manage at novel length. There is no other horror writer working today who can move so seamlessly between lifting your spirits and breaking you without mercy and ‘Stirring the Sheets’ is another example of Chad Lutzke demonstrating a mastery of his craft.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
January 17, 2019
I had to sleep on this review. I knew if I just went straight into writing it after finishing the book that I would sound like an uncontrollable hot mess who lacks the ability to express any sort of rational thought. This. BOOK! This book is solid gold, that's what it is.
The basic premise of the story is that "an elderly funeral home worker, struggling with the loss of his wife, finds an unnatural attraction to a corpse at work resembling his late bride in her younger years. A story of desperation, loneliness, and letting go." And while at 103 pages long, this tiny book is packed with SO much.
The grief and loneliness practically drip off the pages. You really start to feel for and connect with Emmett, our protagonist who has lost his wife of ~50 years. Reading about him and how he goes on with his daily routines as if she's still there or to honor her memory is undeniably heartbreaking. But life was getting to the point for Emmett to make him wonder, "What good are pearly whites if you've got no one to smile for?" *crying eternally*
Lutzke just performed some sort of dark magic on me, I just know it. The multitude of emotions that overcame me while I was invested in Emmett's story came as a huge surprise. And now here I am singing its praises. Everyone just needs to pick this one up and read it ASAP. "This isn't about sex. This is about hating yourself enough to go to extremes. It's about surviving, when all you want to do is wake up dead."
This story is tragic, poetic, and beautiful. This story is sad. This story is dark. "This isn't romance.
This is intimacy. This is coping. And this is needed." And this story is perfect. 5 stars! I just can't stop thinking about this one. This story will mesmerize you. Do it now!
The basic premise of the story is that "an elderly funeral home worker, struggling with the loss of his wife, finds an unnatural attraction to a corpse at work resembling his late bride in her younger years. A story of desperation, loneliness, and letting go." And while at 103 pages long, this tiny book is packed with SO much.
The grief and loneliness practically drip off the pages. You really start to feel for and connect with Emmett, our protagonist who has lost his wife of ~50 years. Reading about him and how he goes on with his daily routines as if she's still there or to honor her memory is undeniably heartbreaking. But life was getting to the point for Emmett to make him wonder, "What good are pearly whites if you've got no one to smile for?" *crying eternally*
Lutzke just performed some sort of dark magic on me, I just know it. The multitude of emotions that overcame me while I was invested in Emmett's story came as a huge surprise. And now here I am singing its praises. Everyone just needs to pick this one up and read it ASAP. "This isn't about sex. This is about hating yourself enough to go to extremes. It's about surviving, when all you want to do is wake up dead."
This story is tragic, poetic, and beautiful. This story is sad. This story is dark. "This isn't romance.
This is intimacy. This is coping. And this is needed." And this story is perfect. 5 stars! I just can't stop thinking about this one. This story will mesmerize you. Do it now!
May 22, 2019
While sorting through my Paperwhite the other night, I stumbled upon this novella and decided to check it out. I mean, it sounded interesting, the cover is super creepy, and I've heard great things about this author.
Emmett works in a funeral home, so he's no stranger to death. However, when he loses his wife of almost 50 years, he finds himself drowning in grief, loneliness and an endless reel of memories.
The day the body of a random woman that reminds him of a younger version of his dead wife crosses his path, he does the unthinkable...
I wasn't sure what to expect from this novella. I thought it might turn out to be a twisted, bloody mess. Or turn into some sort of necro-loving nightmare. Instead, it was a melancholy story about a man who has helped others move on after death, trying to come to terms with his own loss. And failing at every step.
It's about how the human mind and spirit betrays him when he's trying to find his way out of the dark. And how the combination of doing something totally insane--and let's be honest, immoral--and finally opening up to the real show of friendship being offered to him, might be the perfect formula to, maybe not cure him, but lead him in the right direction towards living again.
This is such a well-written story that dragged me in deep, until I felt every single emotion Emmett did. His pain bounces off the pages, and his daily routine of nothingness only adds to the sombre experience. Yet, this wasn't a depressing or bleak read, it was cathartic.
It was also a quiet horror tale that I'm glad I finally read. Oh, and I will definitely have to read more of Lutzke's books.
Emmett works in a funeral home, so he's no stranger to death. However, when he loses his wife of almost 50 years, he finds himself drowning in grief, loneliness and an endless reel of memories.
The day the body of a random woman that reminds him of a younger version of his dead wife crosses his path, he does the unthinkable...
I wasn't sure what to expect from this novella. I thought it might turn out to be a twisted, bloody mess. Or turn into some sort of necro-loving nightmare. Instead, it was a melancholy story about a man who has helped others move on after death, trying to come to terms with his own loss. And failing at every step.
It's about how the human mind and spirit betrays him when he's trying to find his way out of the dark. And how the combination of doing something totally insane--and let's be honest, immoral--and finally opening up to the real show of friendship being offered to him, might be the perfect formula to, maybe not cure him, but lead him in the right direction towards living again.
This is such a well-written story that dragged me in deep, until I felt every single emotion Emmett did. His pain bounces off the pages, and his daily routine of nothingness only adds to the sombre experience. Yet, this wasn't a depressing or bleak read, it was cathartic.
It was also a quiet horror tale that I'm glad I finally read. Oh, and I will definitely have to read more of Lutzke's books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews