52 Sleepless Nights

I’ll admit, I approached *52 Sleepless Nights* with skepticism. Anthologies often suffer from uneven quality, but Wade’s collection defies that with surprising consistency. The standouts—like *The Man in the Yellow Waistcoat* (a Lovecraftian descent into color-based madness) and *The Last Broadcast* (a radio host’s final, chilling sign-off)—linger long after the audio stops. Jenkins’ narration elevates even the more predictable plots; his pacing is impeccable, knowing exactly when to slow down for a reveal or speed up during a chase. That said, a few stories rely too heavily on twist endings that feel telegraphed (*The Attic Door* being the worst offender), and the supernatural tales occasionally blur together in the second half. The real triumph here is the *atmosphere*. Wade excels at turning mundane settings—abandoned motels, quiet libraries, a child’s bedroom—into pressure cookers of tension. Jenkins matches this with a performance that’s never over-the-top but always *present*. My only gripe? The audiobook’s chapter breaks are abrupt, sometimes cutting off the end of a story’s echo before you’ve fully processed it. Still, for fans of *The NoSleep Podcast* or Ligotti’s bleak fables, this is a must-listen. Just maybe not right before bed.