Back Into the Ground, edited by James Strayer and Erick Mertz, is a great collection of “horror inspired by the Pacific Northwest.”

This new (published February, 2026) anthology of short fiction demonstrates a wonderful range of atmospheres, characters, and terrors.

“Places Where No Lights Shine” by C.F. Page had my heart pounding the entire time, unsure where the story was going but knowing it was going somewhere dark.

“Wild Dogs” by Brie Williams starts off in sunny Palm Springs but ends in our own much darker Pacific Northwest. The titular wild dogs has a dual meaning–the physical (wild dogs were the main characters’ high school mascot) and the figurative, referencing the idiom “wild dogs couldn’t keep me away.” This story did a fantastic job of developing that something isn’t quite right here feeling.

“Bait” By Bec Stranger delves into the watery depths of the sea, with a wonderfully creative and shocking ending.

Some of these stories fit nicely into the Pacific Northwest gothic genre, while others feel a little more standard horror. Either way, it was a really enjoyable read and I recommend checking it out!