Steve Farrell, a tough private detective, tries to take a break from crime and murder by going on vacation for New Year’s Eve. He heads to a quiet, snow-covered mountain lodge hoping for peace, solitude, and maybe a little romance.

A struggling artist named Paul becomes obsessed with painting the perfect portrait of death itself. Paul is haunted by nightmares and visions, and he begins to believe that he must experience death firsthand—or bring someone else close to it—in order to capture it truthfully on canvas.

Dr. John Strand, a physician, stumbles upon a mysterious pawn shop where he encounters an enigmatic old man engaged in a game of chess. Unbeknownst to Strand, this is no ordinary game—the chessboard represents a town, and the pieces symbolize real people.

The story unfolds with five survivors adrift on a lifeboat after a shipwreck. Among them is a composer who incessantly hums a simple tune to comfort his injured wife. This repetitive humming becomes a source of irritation for another survivor.

A couple commits the murder of their wealthy but mentally ill neighbour, seizing his money in the process. Although not immediately suspected of the crime, paranoia takes hold, compelling them to flee. Their anxiety intensifies as they become convinced that a policeman is trailing them.

Set in Louisiana, the story follows Larry Gifford, a man wrongfully convicted of murder and awaiting execution. On the eve of his death, he is mysteriously aided in an escape by Claudine, a woman he's never met.

Karen Marley visits her father's fiancée, Laura Mason, a woman with an eerie ability to foresee the future. Laura ominously predicts that Karen will be hanged for her father's murder. Soon after, Karen discovers her father's lifeless body, and Laura vanishes without a trace.

Set against the eerie backdrop of deserted waterfront streets, the story follows a hard-boiled detective determined to unmask the elusive killer. The Slasher is notorious for whistling a haunting tune before each murder, a chilling signature that adds to the city's growing fear. As the detective delves deeper, he encounters a cast of suspicious characters, including a demented composer, an overprotective husband, and a seemingly helpful lackey.

Sebastian Packer, a London-based clockmaker, has spent 30 years searching for a specific antique known as the Judas Clock. This Italian-made clock operates only when the 30 silver coins paid to Judas Iscariot are placed in its weights. Legend holds that the clock brings violent death to its owners. Sebastian's obsession stems from a traumatic event in his youth: at 14, he witnessed his father's death, which he attributes to the clock's curse.

Louisa Crane, a young schoolteacher, inherits an old country cottage and a small box of keepsakes from a great-aunt she never met. Among the contents is a peculiar and beautiful piece: a bog-oak necklace—jet-black, warm to the touch, and carved with strange Celtic symbols.