Ivy Pochoda’s Eerie Basin is a short but spine-tingling story that proves you don’t need a full-length novel to deliver atmospheric horror. Known for her gritty noir fiction like These Women and Visitation Street, Pochoda dives into the supernatural this time, crafting a haunting narrative set in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where the ghosts of the past refuse to stay buried.
At the center of this eerie tale is Erin, a bartender at the last dive bar standing in a gentrified neighborhood. The old regulars come to reminisce about Red Hook’s darker, more dangerous days, while her boss, Jimmy, plans to leave town for good. Once a struggling NYPD officer, Jimmy is now a wealthy real estate mogul, and it’s clear there’s more to his success than hard work. When Erin expresses her wish to buy the bar, Jimmy refuses, hinting at a sinister secret tied to his past and to the bar itself.
The story unfolds with a sense of creeping dread, as Pochoda layers atmosphere like fog over the harbor. The bar is more than just a building; it feels alive, pulsing with history, regret, and something monstrous waiting beneath the surface. As the truth emerges a mysterious creature that once offered Jimmy everything he ever wanted it becomes clear that some bargains never really end, and debts always come due.
Alan Teder, one of the early reviewers, praised Eerie Basin for its noir-inspired tone and its return to Pochoda’s Brooklyn roots, describing it as “a haunting or horror tale” with satisfying depth for such a brief story. Nancy Yager echoed that sentiment, calling it “the perfect spooky read for Halloween” and applauding Pochoda’s ability to blend fantasy and moral darkness. Others, like Sarah, wished for a deeper mythology behind the haunting, feeling the story could have benefited from a touch more lore. Still, even she admitted that Eerie Basin’s mood and mystery made it worth the read.
At its heart, Eerie Basin is about temptation, ambition, and the price of desire. Pochoda uses the urban landscape of Red Hook as a mirror for corruption and decay, where the new and shiny hides something rotten underneath. The prose is taut and cinematic, and though the horror element stays subtle, it lingers long after the last line.
Perfect for a quick evening read, Eerie Basin captures that late-night unease of being alone in a quiet bar, certain that something unseen is watching from the corner. It’s moody, morally complex, and perfect for fans who enjoy horror that whispers rather than screams.
If you are looking for a fast, unsettling read to welcome the Halloween season, Eerie Basin deserves a spot on your Kindle.
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