One 'Don't turn around' story is about a girl walking alone at night. She heard strange whispers behind her but was too scared to turn around. As she walked faster, the whispers grew louder. When she finally got home and locked the door, she saw a shadowy figure through the window that had been following her all along.
There's a story where a hiker is on a lonely trail. He starts to feel like he's being followed. He hears the rustling of leaves and twigs snapping, but every time he thinks about turning around, he remembers the old warning 'don't turn around'. As the day turns to night, the feeling of dread intensifies. Then, just when he can't take it anymore, he turns around and sees a pair of glowing eyes in the darkness. It's a classic 'Don't Turn Around' type of scary story that plays on our fears of the wilderness and the unknown.
Once, a girl was walking alone at night. She heard a strange noise behind her but remembered the 'Don't Turn Around' rule. The noise grew louder, like something dragging on the ground. She started to run, her heart pounding. When she finally reached home, she locked the door. Later, she found out from the news that a deranged man with a chainsaw had been in her neighborhood that night.
The fact that they often involve a sense of being hunted or stalked. In 'Don't Turn Around' stories, there's usually this menacing presence that's getting closer. And the protagonist is in a state of constant fear, not knowing when or if this thing will strike. It's like being in a horror movie where the killer could be just around the corner. This type of story taps into our primal fear of being prey, and that's why they're so terrifying.
One common element is the sense of an unseen threat. In these stories, the main character is constantly aware of something behind them, creating a feeling of dread. Another is the rule itself, 'Don't turn around', which adds to the suspense. For example, in many such stories, there's often a strange noise or a cold presence that makes the character want to turn but they resist.
Sorry, I don't have the specific release year for 'Don't Turn Around' off the top of my head. You could try looking on popular book review platforms or asking at a local library.
I think 'Don't Turn Around' in the novel might be a kind of command or caution. Maybe it's tied to a hidden threat or a secret that the character must avoid uncovering by not turning around. Or perhaps it's a psychological barrier for the character to overcome.