Children Shouldn't Play With The Dead - Paperback

by Russell W. Dickson (Author)

In the seemingly peaceful town of Gloversville, New York, memories of Danny Podder a rebellious and feared childhood figure-haunt our protagonist as he recalls their twisted coming-of-age experiences. Following his father's warning, he hesitates to interact with Danny, who belongs to the notorious Podder family with a dark history tied to the polluted town. Danny's father, known as King Podder, rules the local leather industry with an iron fist and moral indifference, a legacy that Danny seems destined to follow.

Years later, the protagonist finds himself reluctantly drawn into Danny's disturbing world, filled with tales of haunted places, dark rituals, and local legends, such as the Leather Man a ghostly figure whose legacy of terror once lurked through the town's abandoned mills and forests. A horrific adventure begins when Danny introduces him to a supposed child's mummified corpse, a grotesque "mascot" of Danny's that is kept in a decaying, abandoned summer camp. But this lifeless relic harbors a sinister presence, brought to life by a dark ritual that unleashes it upon the living.

Through a series of chilling encounters, including run-ins with a gypsy and the haunted creature itself, our protagonist is dragged deeper into a world of horror. He confronts terrifying truths about friendship, betrayal, and survival, facing his fears and the evils hidden within his community's past. Years later, the memories linger, as he is left to wonder whether these horrors have truly been left behind or if they are still lurking in the shadows, waiting to return.