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John Boden
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Chad Lutzke
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Out Behind the Barn Kindle Edition

by Chad Lutzke (Author), John Boden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 540 ratings
The boys crept to the window and watched as Miss Maggie carried the long bundle into the barn, the weight of it stooping her aging back. Rafter lights spilled from the barn doors, and Davey saw an arm fall from the canvas-wrapped parcel. He smiled.


"She got someone!"


Both children grinned and settled in their beds, eyes fixed to the ceiling.


This was family growth.


"Boden and Lutzke weave heartache and a backwoods tale as easily as telling a story around a campfire, delivered in an incredible voice."
~ Robert Ford, author of BORDERTOWN


"Poetic, unnerving, and heartbreaking. The partnership between Boden and Lutzke yields the kind of story that leaves you aching and unsettled. Long after finishing, I couldn’t stop thinking about Maggie, her boys, and what happens out behind the barn."
~ Kristi DeMeester, Author of BENEATH


"Lawdy mercy. This story was amazing. There's something magical and sad about it. I dig it a lot."
~ Michelle Garza (half of the Sisters of Slaughter) authors of MAYAN BLUE & THOSE WHO FOLLOW
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  1. Print length
    127 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    October 5, 2018
  5. File size
    5.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07HXW2J39
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Work Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 5, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 127 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1988819105
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 540 ratings

About the authors

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  1. John Boden

    John Boden

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    John Boden was mostly raised in the mountains of Pennsylvania, in the small town of Orbisonia.

    He is a bakery manager by trade and finds a regular sleep schedule overrated.

    He currently resides with his beautiful wife and two sons, in a house sweetly haunted by the ghost of a beautician named, Darlene. He likes collecting lots of things and won't usually shut up about it.

    His writing is fairly well received and has been called unique of style.

    His work has been published in the form of stories in several anthologies and as novellas. He is slowly working on his first novel.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Chad Lutzke

    Chad Lutzke

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Chad 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, THE PALE WHITE, SKULLFACE BOY, 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 Lansdale, Stephen Graham Jones and his own mother.

    He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
540 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a terrific novella that packs an emotional wallop, with one review describing it as a powerful story of loss. Moreover, the writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting it reads like a modern-day fairytale. Additionally, the book is quick to read and features well-developed characters.

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Story qualityEmotional contentReadabilityWriting qualityCharacter development
24 customers mention "Story quality"21 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a terrific novella with an interesting plot and creepy elements, with one customer noting its powerful themes of loss.

"...And what a delightful surprise this one turned out to be. A terrific novella, in my opinion the perfect length...." Read more

"...driven, with the horror elements as more of a backdrop, to a very well told story about growing up and finding out things about the family you have..." Read more

"Interesting and creepy story that is poetically written. Took a totally different turn than what I was anticipating." Read more

"...To be fair, it’s not a bad story. And it’s not a great one, either...." Read more

16 customers mention "Emotional content"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's emotional depth, describing it as beautifully depressing and packing an emotional wallop, with one customer noting its moving portrayal of friendship.

"...The atmosphere was great, a real sense of mystery and gentle dread...." Read more

"Kind of an odd read. Short and sweet to the point, but not very satisfying personally. Everything felt unfinished, partial...." Read more

"...Character wise, you get exactly what you'd hope for; fleshed out, sympathetic, and a mirror where you can see yourselves in them...." Read more

"Out Behind the Barn is a moving tale about friendship, loss of family, and the lengths some people will go to have their version of a family...." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an awesome and quick read.

"...It is short and sweet but packs a big punch with a final scene that left me with a sense of closure and heartbreak...." Read more

"What a captivating book, that keeps you guessing until the end...." Read more

"Interesting and creepy story that is poetically written. Took a totally different turn than what I was anticipating." Read more

"Powerful for such a short read! I honestly didn't see anything coming. I was wayyyyy off! I'm slacking in my reasoning skills...." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting it reads like a modern-day fairytale.

"...It's a short good read, so you might as well just read it." Read more

"Interesting and creepy story that is poetically written. Took a totally different turn than what I was anticipating." Read more

"...And it’s not a great one, either. The writing is somewhere between Adequate and Good; it’s readable and manages not to fall into the Bottomless Pit..." Read more

"...Extremely well written, at times almost poetic. Wish it was longer! A MUST READ!" Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...The characters were intriguing, and I loved that even the "villain" was given a certain amount of sympathy...." Read more

"...There are horror elements to this story, but it's very much character driven, with the horror elements as more of a backdrop, to a very well told..." Read more

"...Good plot and character development, where and to the limited extent undertaken. Highly recommend." Read more

"A story of broken characters that you can't help but feel for. One of the best endings of any book I have ever read!..." Read more

Two Writers. One Voice. And A Ton Of Heart.
5 out of 5 stars
Two Writers. One Voice. And A Ton Of Heart.
OUT BEHIND THE BARN is a wonderful and surprisingly emotional tale about the unimaginable lengths that one woman, the mysterious Miss Maggie, is willing to go to in order to keep her family close. Chad Lutzke and John Boden speak with one voice, seamlessly weaving a tale of dark magic and mystery, love and loss. OUT BEHIND THE BARN is an incredibly unique story that packs an emotional wallop.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Mark Gunnells
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Novella
    Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I went into this one blind, I read it simply because I am already a fan of the two authors involved. I had zero clue what the actual plot would be, and I love that kind of experience where everything about the story is a surprise.

    And what a delightful surprise this one turned out to be. A terrific novella, in my opinion the perfect length. The atmosphere was great, a real sense of mystery and gentle dread. The characters were intriguing, and I loved that even the "villain" was given a certain amount of sympathy.

    The ending was beautiful and all told, I thought this was a perfect little package.
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Completely unexpected
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Going into this book, I was unsure of what to expect. The description was very vague and didn't give much away. The book itself was very hard to put down, and it was hard to decipher what was going on at first. By the end when the peices started to fall into place I was expecting a completely different ending. This was a unique take on a book and I couldn't even begin to think of a genre for it. It's a short good read, so you might as well just read it.
    Helpful
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  • Tommie & Sayre
    3.0 out of 5 stars Different
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Kind of an odd read. Short and sweet to the point, but not very satisfying personally.

    Everything felt unfinished, partial. Perhaps that’s the point though.
    Helpful
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  • Brad Proctor
    5.0 out of 5 stars A heartbreaking story of family and murder.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is my first experience reading both John Boden and Chad Lutzke but it won't be my last. This collaboration was amazing.

    From the very beginning the reader knows that something insidious is going on at Maggie's Farm. Boden and Lutzke do a great job at dropping in little clues to the mystery as the story slowly reveals what is really occurring on the farm.

    If I'm honest I was left wanting more. I wanted more time with these characters, especially Davey and Ronny the two young boys. I wanted to spend more time with them on the farm, more time eating pie, and more time listening to stories. But after thinking about it this was the perfect length for it to have the impact that it did.

    I don't really know what else to say about this as I don't want to spoil anything about the story. It is short and sweet but packs a big punch with a final scene that left me with a sense of closure and heartbreak.

    I can't recommend this one highly enough!
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Josh Davis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Fall Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    What a captivating book, that keeps you guessing until the end. Boden and Lutzke are a match made in heaven, and this book just shows the power of the two minds together.
    Character wise, you get exactly what you'd hope for; fleshed out, sympathetic, and a mirror where you can see yourselves in them.
    Grab some hot cider and open the book to fall leaves dancing around your feet. It's a magical experience.
    Oh, and go in not knowing much about the story. That's the best way to go.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Shannon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Collaboration
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Out Behind the Barn is a moving tale about friendship, loss of family, and the lengths some people will go to have their version of a family. John Boden and Chad Lutzke do an excellent job of capturing the emotional nature of this story. Davey and Ronny are two boys that live with Maggie on her farm. Davey and Ronny have seen many people come and live at the farm, and then move on after awhile. The newest person to arrive at the farm is named Rose, who Ronny takes an immediate liking to, and Davey feels an odd connection to. Rose is gone one night, and Benjamin takes her place. Benjamin opens Davey's eyes and suspicions to the world they are living in, leading to a decision that affects both them and Ronny. There are horror elements to this story, but it's very much character driven, with the horror elements as more of a backdrop, to a very well told story about growing up and finding out things about the family you have not being what you necessarily thought.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • lee
    3.0 out of 5 stars I just...meh.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
    Format: Kindle
    I liked the way the book read, I enjoy the writing style, buuut..... I didn't know this was going to go from what I thought was a good thriller to... this weird story.
    Helpful
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  • dawnofthedeadling
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting & Creepy
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Interesting and creepy story that is poetically written. Took a totally different turn than what I was anticipating.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Shawna (@shawna_reads)
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and chilling!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    "Her eyes. They see the world how I see it. There's a twinkle in them, like they've got love to give."

    Two boys live on a secluded farm with Miss Maggie, a woman who takes care of them. Some days she brings people back to the farm to join their family, which in turn makes the boys excited.

    At only 125 pages, Boden and Lutzke weaved together a beautiful novella. A horror story that tugged on your heartstrings. I enjoyed the perspectives of the two young boys and the mysterious build up of events. I had an idea of what was going on, but the reveal at the end took it to another level. I was not ready for an emotional read, but I loved every minute of it!

    That is all I'm going to say before I spoil anything as it is fast paced. Just know that it was dark and tense, yet beautifully written.
    Report
  • BookEater
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An extremely powerful tale of two boys living on a farm with no early memories.
    Very heartbreaking. But beautifully written
    Report
  • Daisydolittle
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great novella
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A short novella that packs a punch. Given that this is a novella, I don’t want to give away too much detail. The story centres around 2 young boys and their caregiver Maggie. A love of books, including Poe keep their hearts happy without asking many questions. This slowly changes when Ben is brought into the family, with questions being asked and answer found, all hidden from Maggie.
    Report
  • Tuki
    4.0 out of 5 stars What Did I Just Read?
    Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    When I finished the book I was a bit disappointed & decided I didn't like it. But for days after, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The characters & the ending would replay in my head at random moments. I couldn't shake this story. It's a weird one that stays with you for a long time after.
    Report
  • David Benjamins
    5.0 out of 5 stars great story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Well written and riveting story. A bit too short but I guess all good books feel that way
    Report

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