The Ladder Man

I'm reading all of the noms for the Ladies of Horror Fiction 2020 awards. So far I'm loving reading these short, horrific novellas in July. Who knew?
The Ladderman is a deadly thing that comes to take lives when a chant is sung. This had some super spooky moments. I can't remember the last time I read something that didn't really have a main character, but it really works here (otherwise how could we be with certain characters when the Ladderman comes for them?) It reads like a horror movie.
It's very fast-paced and starts off running. Would I like for it to be longer and to get to know the characters a little better? Maybe. I'll have to see what else Archer has in the future.

Renovations at a hotel bring forth a supernatural force that hates cheaters...

After hearing of a murder that just happened that some people believed a local legend named “The Ladderman” was involved in, a group of friends out drinking jokingly say the rhyme that brings him forth. When his friends start dying afterward, Rik realizes its all real.

He's already suffering from having been stabbed before the events of the story and his fear and insecurities are a constant in the book. With a pregnant wife to worry about as well, the curse goes after him. This is slowly revealed and expanded on as the story goes and feels authentic instead of just dumping exposition on the reader.

He's always shown as being meek and a bit weak, but I suppose he is still also driven to do the right thing and figure out what to do about the Ladderman. The rest of the book's characters aren't done in nearly as much detail as him but he's a great enough character to make up for them.

As for the Ladderman himself, he's basically an unstoppable force that stalks and kills the characters. He appears once in the beginning, but then usually just shows up as an invisible menace. He's done incredibly well and his kill scenes are pretty gruesome. When I picked this I thought how vicious could someone named The Ladderman be? Turns out, pretty vicious.

The story is well written, and a lot of details make into each sentence. I always enjoy it when the little things are described well. All the characters were likable and don't really do anything stupid like how these things often go. It has the horror and gore you'd want, a great main character, and it all moves to a satisfying conclusion.