This Town is Sick – Stories from a Cursed Place

This Town is Sick – Stories from a Cursed Place

Nineteen stories. One town. No escape.

On the surface, San Palmo looks like any other small town. It has a diner where everyone knows each other and a bed and breakfast where only the tourists bother to stay. It’s the kind of community that fights over bowling games and rallies behind its Little League team. But beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary place, something far more sinister lurks.

A young woman documents her obsession with a seemingly innocent jar. A potter sneaks home a broken mannequin that reminds her of her dead husband. A family learns why locals steer clear of certain parts of the woods. A man suspects his wife of infidelity, but learns she’s hiding so much more. As San Palmo’s residents dig deeper into its mysteries, they discover their lives are intertwined in ways they never expected.

From black trees and masked killers to three generations of sheriffs keeping secrets, This Town is Sick is a collection of nineteen interconnected stories set in the cursed town of San Palmo. But be careful—while each story brings you closer to the truth, some knowledge comes at too steep a price.

Robin’s Review

What Did I Just Walk Into?

Welcome to San Palmo—where the pie is warm, the neighbors are nosy, and reality leaks like a busted sewer pipe. If you came here for a cozy small-town vibe, you might want to keep driving unless you’re cool with cursed woods, haunted trinkets, and a mannequin that’s way too emotionally available.

Here’s What Slapped:

Mr. Brian Martinez didn’t just build a town—he cursed it, buried the evidence, then dared us to dig it up. These interconnected stories are less “cozy campfire tales” and more “pass me the sage and salt, we’re not leaving this room.” From the mundane to the macabre, each story peels back another layer of dread, like a polite Midwestern onion that just wants to ruin your night.

Standouts include the creepy jar story (yes, we’re emotionally scarred now, thanks), and the mannequin that had no business being that unsettling. Also, shoutout to the town’s generational sheriff squad—because nepotism hits different when it’s occult-adjacent.

Could’ve Been Better:

Some stories left me with more questions than closure… but honestly? That just adds to the charm. Confusion is part of the curse. Embrace it.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:

📖 Small-town horror with big, weird secrets

📖 Interconnected story collections

📖 Subtle dread that snowballs into “Nope”

📖 Vibes like Channel Zero, Marble Hornets, or Welcome to Night Vale but meaner

Vibe Check:

Like Twin Peaks and Silent Hill had a cursed Airbnb in the middle of nowhere and invited you in for coffee and trauma.

Reviewed by Kenan for Robin’s Review

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