Classic horror, ghost stories and supernatural fiction
HarperCollins India The Haunting of Delhi City: Tales of the
Book SynopsisDelhi that reveals the presence of the supernatural at every corner-ghosts as real to us in stories as they are in our imagination. Exquisitely chilling, each of these tales holds a piece of the city and its people-especially the ghosts. Oh, these are just stories, you say. But are they? Come, have a read ... if you dare.
£13.99
Flame Tree Publishing Japanese Ghost Stories
Book SynopsisWith a new introduction, this collection of Japanese ghost stories brings together fantastic tales of vengeful spirits, mountain-dwelling phantoms, man-eating oni, haunted trees, and child-rearing ghosts, with stories such as Yuki-Onna, Hoichi the Earless, The Ghost of O-Kiku from The Bancho Sarayashiki, the sorry tale of O-Iwa from the Yotsuya Kaidan, The Peony Lantern and The Ghost Who Bought Candy. Japan has a long and ancient custom of sharing stories of the supernatural, brought to fashionable prominence in the Kaidan literature of the Edo period, now presented here for the modern reader. FLAME TREE 451: From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.
£8.54
Flame Tree Publishing Algernon Blackwood Horror Stories
Book SynopsisAlgernon Blackwood, a founding father of modern ghost and horror stories, is one of the great horror writers of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. With M.R. James, William Hope Hodgson and Arthur Machen, he inspired generations of writers from H.P. Lovecraft to Shirley Jackson, Robert Bloch to Ramsey Campbell. Although The Willows and The Wendigo are his most well-known, this new collection brings together many of his other finely crafted tales, including 'The Empty House', 'A Haunted Island', 'The Transfer' and 'The Kit-Bag'. The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.
£16.00
British Library Publishing The Flaw in the Crystal
Book SynopsisIncluding the contents of the classic collections Uncanny Stories (1923) and The Intercessor and Other Stories (1931), this new volume also features two rare strange tales from a third, lesser-known book which explore further facets of Sinclair's fascination with the uncanny.
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co I Am Legend
Book SynopsisRobert Neville is the last living man on Earth ... but he is not alone. Every other man, woman and child on the planet has become a vampire, and they are hungry for Neville''s blood. By day he is the hunter, stalking the undead through the ruins of civilisation. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn. How long can one man survive like this?Winner of the Bram Stoker Prize for Vampire Novel of the Century, I Am Legend is a stunning blend of science fiction and horror.''The most clever and riveting vampire novel since Dracula'' - Dean Koontz''Books like I Am Legend were an inspiration to me'' - Stephen King''It is, by turns, scary, thrilling, tragic, witty and - ultimately - uplifting'' - James LovegroveWelcome to The Best Of The Masterworks: a selection of the finest in science fiction
£9.49
Duckworth Books Out of Service
Book SynopsisAfter the events in Coldbay where they sealed the hell hole, Lucy is trying to learn more about it and how to save Murzzzz from eternal damnation. Yes, he’s a demon and all, but he’s also a part of the family. Lucy’s turned to her diocese for guidance but they’ve gone strangely quiet so she persuades the Rooks to drive there so they can sort this out. On the way, they realise something is incredibly wrong with a motorway service station - it’s empty except for lingering, sad ghosts and… oh no, another hell hole has opened up and sucked in a load of people. They know they need to stay until they can rescue them and close it down, but not before they’ve done everything in their collective power to rescue Murzzzz. After all, one man’s hellhole is a family of ghost-hunter’s opportunity to save their demon friend. That’s the expression, right?Trade Review'Gabby is one of the funniest writers I know' Sarah Millican
£8.54
Oxford University Press The Virgin of the Seven Daggers
Book SynopsisThis selection brings together the fantastic Gothic stories of Vernon Lee, including the landmark collection Hauntings, first published in 1890, along with six additional tales and the 1880 essay 'Faustus and Helena'.Table of ContentsIntroduction Winthrop's Adventure Oke of Okehurst; or, the Phantom Lover Amour Dure Dionea A Wicked Voice The Legend of Madame Krasinska The Virgin of the Seven Daggers Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady The Doll Marsyas in Flanders Appendix I: Faustus and Helena Appendix II: Preface to Hauntings Explanatory Notes
£7.99
Aurora Metro Publications Dark Tales in Winter: adapted for the stage
Book SynopsisDARK TALES IN WINTER adapted for the stage by Matt Beames & Hannah Torrance A mysterious door that will not close... A haunted railwayman at his lonely post... A chilling presence haunts a quiet household... A black cat reveals a grim secret... A collection of four classic ghost stories by masters of the genre, each newly adapted for the stage. Each tale can be enacted by a single performer and together they make for a chilling evening of ghostly tales. Features: The Open Door by Charlotte Riddell The Signal-Man by Charles Dickens The Shadow by E. Nesbit The Black Cat by Edgar Allen PoeTrade Review"These Dark Tales in Winter have been put together for a thrilling evening of entertainment, certainly a striking contrast to shows typical of the festive period." - What's On.
£12.34
Flame Tree Publishing Weird Horror Short Stories
Book SynopsisWith stories from modern writers, and the founding fathers of horror fiction, weird or cosmic horror combines the dark brooding shadows of the night with the presence of elder gods at the edges of our world. Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, H.P. Lovecraft and Ramsey Campbell sit alongside new tales by new writers from open submissions. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Ramsey Campbell, Daniel Carpenter, Micah Castle, Kevin M. Folliard, Anastasia Garcia, Timothy Granville, Steve Hanson, Maria Haskins, Nyx Kain, Shona Kinsella, Lena Ng, Reggie Oliver, Jason Parent, Bonnie Quinn, Eric Reitan, Cody Schroeder, Lucy A. Snyder, Richard Thomas, Chris Wheatley, and Maria Wolfe. These appear alongside classic stories by Louisa May Alcott, Robert Bloch, William Hope Hodgson, Fritz Leiber, Clark Ashton Smith and more. The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.
£16.00
HarperCollins Publishers Whisper Cottage Dont miss the completely
Book SynopsisI couldn''t put it down, read it cover to cover in a day A fabulous chilling thriller.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????A mysterious figure. A whispering community. A deadly secretWhen Stina and Jack move to an old rural cottage, they're hoping for a fresh start. Their new home is run-down compared to their neighbour's, but generous Mrs Barley quickly becomes a friend.Until Stina sees a mysterious figure in the widow's garden, and her happy new life begins to unravel. And when she hears strange noises in the night, she is forced to question if Mrs Barley is what she seems.Why do the other villagers whisper about her? Why is she so eager to help the couple? And what is she hiding in her picture-perfect home?A haunting, twisty story about the power of secrets and rumours, perfect for fans of Ruth Ware's The Turn of the Key and Lucy Atkins's Magpie Lane. Readers are gripped by Whisper Cottage: Unputdownable. I loved it! Had me hooked Great, fast paced mystery.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Full of twists and turns you just don't see coming Read it in one sitting.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Super suspenseful book with lots of twists and could it be you moments Keeps the reader guessing until the end.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Excellent Gripping I raced through it.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Brilliant! Suspenseful, gripping, compulsive It would make an amazeballs Netflix film (hint, hint)!' NetGalley reviewer, ?????I was shocked to the core and that doesn't happen often! It's one of those stories that you're dying to figure out (but can't!) 5/5, loved it.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Creepy, claustrophobic and compelling! A beautifully written thriller that kept me glued to my Kindle' Miranda RijksI devoured this book in a couple of sittings because I needed to find out what was going on! Twists and turn to keep the reader enthralled!' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Trade Review‘Creepy, claustrophobic and compelling! A beautifully written thriller that kept me glued to my Kindle’ Miranda Rijks, author of The Visitors ‘Haunting psychological suspense… Will send shivers down your spine’ Alice Hunter, author of The Serial Killer’s Wife “Whisper Cottage was a dark and atmospheric thriller that pulled me in from the very first page.” Stephanie DeCarolis, author of The Guilty Husband 'Chilling and wonderfully atmospheric, with an ending that took me surprise – I couldn’t put it down' Amanda Brittany, author of Her Last Lie
£9.49
British Library Publishing Shadows on the Wall
Book SynopsisCollecting the best of the author's strange tales - including 'The White Shawl', which was unpublished during her lifetime - this volume casts a light on an underappreciated contributor to weird fiction and the shadowy corners of a dark imagination.
£8.54
Graphic Arts Books Carmilla
Book SynopsisCarmilla (1872) is a novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Published twenty-six years before Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Le Fanu’s work of Gothic horror and mystery is considered an important early entry in the genre of vampire fiction. Recorded in the casebook of Dr. Hesselius, a medical professional with a detective’s sensibility, is the story of Laura, a teenager bearing a strange secret. Raised in a castle by her father, a widower who recently concluded his career in service to the Austrian Empire, Laura has been haunted since her youth, when she was visited at night by a beautiful, spectral woman. Now eighteen, she awaits the visit of Bertha Rheinfelt, a niece of her father’s friend. When Bertha dies mysteriously, however, and when a girl named Carmilla is brought to the castle under strange circumstances, Laura fears that the past has come full circle. But she soon overcomes her mournful state, growing close with Carmilla. But the girl’s behavior soon proves unsettling. Carmilla is prone to sleepwalking, sleeps through the day, declines to participate in prayers, and makes romantic overtures to Laura. She begins to be haunted by strange and violent dreams, waking one night to discover Carmilla at the foot of her bed, and bite marks along her neck. Her father intervenes, taking her to a local village. On the way, they meet Bertha’s uncle, who shares the chilling details of her fate. It becomes clear that Carmilla, whoever she is, is far from the innocent young girl she claims to be. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.
£6.78
Pan Macmillan The Yellow Wallpaper & Herland
Book SynopsisCharlotte Perkins Gilman’s progressive views on feminism and mental health are powerfully showcased in her two most famous stories. The Yellow Wallpaper skillfully charts one woman's struggle with depression whilst Herland is an entertaining imagining of an all female utopia.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by journalist and author Lucy Mangan.Confined to her attic bedroom and isolated from her newborn baby, the nameless narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper keeps a secret diary in which she records the sprawling and shifting patterns of the room’s lurid yellow wallpaper as she slowly sinks into madness. This chilling story is based on the author’s own experience of depression. In Herland, a trio of men set out to discover an all-female community rumoured to be hidden deep in the jungle. What they find surprises them all; they’re captured by women who, for two thousand years, have lived in a peaceful and prosperous utopia without men.Trade ReviewThe Yellow Wallpaper by the American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman created feminist fireworks the moment it appeared in the January 1892 edition of the New England Magazine -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *Gilman wrote her story about husbands, the medical profession and the patriarchy at large shaping and suppressing women’s lives and freedoms 126 years ago. It was only in 2015 that we got a name and a crime – coercive control – for most of what her heroine experiences * Stylist *
£10.44
Sterling H.P. Lovecraft Great Tales of Horror
Book SynopsisIncludes classic stories such as: "The Rats in the Walls," "Pickman's Model," "The Colour out of Space," "The Call of Cthulhu," "The Dunwich Horror," "The Shadow over Innsmouth," "At the Mountains of Madness," "The Shadow out of Time," and "The Haunter of the Dark."
£11.69
Hodder & Stoughton General Division Slade House
Book SynopsisPrepare to be chilled, electrified and entertained - a gem of a novel from 'one of the most brilliantly inventive writers of this, or any country' (Independent).Trade ReviewPainstakingly imagined and crackling with narrative velocity, it's a Dracula for the new millennium, a "Hansel and Gretel" for grownups, a reminder of how much fun fiction can be. -- Anthony Doerr, author of All The Light We Cannot See, winner of the Pulitzer Prize All the intelligence and linguistic dazzle of a David Mitchell novel, but this one will also creep the pants off you ... you won't be able to put this book down. -- Adam Johnson, author of Fortune Smiles and The Orphan Master's Son, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize An eerie haunted-house tale ... a spellbinding chiller about an unnatural greed for life and the arrogance of power. -- Dean Koontz Sharp, fast, flat-out spooky ... a hypnotic read -- Daniel Handler, NYT bestselling author of We Are Pirates and the Lemony Snicket series Mitchell has long been acknowledged as one of the finest - if not the finest - literary minds of his generation; but he's also one of the most suspenseful ... I read in a constant state of terror and joy and could not turn the pages fast enough. -- Joe Hill, NYT bestselling author of NOS4A2 and Horns Fans of The Bone Clocks and Cloud Atlas will recognize the interlocking narrative structure and literary-fantastical bent ... who doesn't want to just drink up all of Mitchell's writing? Library Journal Plants died, milk curdled, and my children went slightly feral as I succumbed to the creepy magic of David Mitchell's Slade House. It's a wildly inventive, chilling, and-for all its other-worldiness-wonderfully human haunted house story. I plan to return to its clutches quite often. Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl Prepare to be dazzled. Tatler A ripping little Victorian gothic yarn, and one of which @edgarallenpoe would have been proud. Esquire
£37.50
British Library Publishing Crawling Horror
Book SynopsisWith expert notes on how each tale contributed to insect horror literature, Janette Leaf and Daisy Butcher are your field guides for a tour through classic insect encounters from the minds of Edgar Allan Poe, E. F. Benson, Clare Winger Harris and many more.
£9.49
Alma Books Ltd The Hound of the Baskervilles
Book SynopsisWhen the corpse of Sir Charles Baskerville is found on the grounds of his Dartmoor estate next to a mysterious animal footprint, thoughts turn to a fabled family curse: that of a hellhound set out to avenge a crime committed by one of Sir Charles's ancestors. As the only surviving heir of the Baskervilles is terrified for his safety, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are called in to investigate. The most famous novel in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes cycle, The Hound of the Baskervilles is a masterpiece of terror, suspense and mystery which has enthralled readers young and old since it was first published in 1902.Trade ReviewSherlock Holmes's best remains a classic. The Times"
£6.99
Handheld Press The Villa and The Vortex: Selected Supernatural
Book SynopsisElinor Mordaunt was the pen name of Evelyn May Clowes (1872-1942), a prolific and popular novelist and short story writer, working in Australia and Britain in the first thirty-five years of the twentieth century. Melissa Edmundson has curated this selection of the best of Mordaunt's supernatural short fiction, which blend the technologies and social attitudes of modernity with the classic supernatural tropes of the ghost, the haunted house, possession, conjuration from the dead and witchcraft. Each story is an original and compelling contribution to the genre, making this selection a marvellous new showcase for women's writing in classic supernatural fiction. Stories include: The Villa’, in which a Croatian mansion does things to its unlucky owners. ‘The Country-side’, in which a very ordinary infidelity demands the ultimate sacrifice. ‘Hodge’ (previously published in Women’s Weird) in which a teenage brother and sister resurrect a prehistoric man and bring him into their home. ‘Four wallpapers’, in which stripping off the wall coverings of a French chateau re-enacts a family tragedy.Trade Review"An attractive, enjoyable collection of supernatural tales, including some real gems." – British Fantasy Society"What a treat this book is: nine exquisitely written stories from a criminally unsung queen of early twentieth-century weird fiction, gorgeously packaged by Handheld Press, and with a typically sterling introduction by Melissa Edmundson. These are tales to live and lose yourself in – haunting, horrifying, and poignant by turns." – Horrified"Beautifully continues the Press’s mission to bring forgotten weird fiction back to life, and makes for a wonderfully spooky read just in time for the Halloween season … The Villa and the Vortex is a must-read for those who find themselves drawn to older weird fiction, and for those with a fondness for older supernatural and ghost stories." – What Sleeps Beneath " … a period atmosphere and a distinctive, suspenseful power to haunt. “The Villa” could be taken as a lost precursor to Shirley Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House." – Michael Caines in the Brixton Review of Books"Mordaunt appears to have believed in the supernatural, having experienced an apparition in Papua New Guinea, she also had personal experience of premonitions during her life and as a child was raised on a diet of folk legends and ghost stories. The influence of these are sometimes seen in the inspiration for the stories." – A Ghostly Company, autumn 2021"The tales themselves ooze atmosphere throughout a range of familiar set pieces to period supernatural yarns; echoing mansions, remote villages, rolling moors. If you’re here for quintessential haunted worlds to get lost in you won’t be disappointed." – Bookmunch " . . . thoughtful rather than terrifying, with enough atmosphere to give the occasional chill and lots to chew over. Highly recommended." – Desperate Reader"The Villa and The Vortex gave me hours of pleasure … I’m always amazed at the depth and breadth of Edmundson’s research and knowledge." – Oddly Weird Fiction"Witchcraft here marks out the freedom of women’s ways and rebellion against the theological forces that would seek to constrain them within a straitjacket of conventional morality." – Dead Reckonings"The Villa and The Vortex is another excellent edition from Handheld with Edmundson’s always-engaging and enthusiastic editorial work beautifully presented in the press’s striking and elegant style. The cover art, ‘Klingsor’s Castle’ by Hermann Hendrich, absolutely drips with the sense of stifling despair that often pervades Mordaunt’s writing and Kate Macdonald’s glossary usefully explains some of Mordaunt’s period idiom." – Daniel Pietersen in HorrorHomeroom"In her well-researched and erudite introduction, Melissa Edmundson examines each story in detail and makes a compelling case for including Mordaunt in the canon of great supernatural writers of the 20th century." – To The Ends of the World
£12.34
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Between Two Worlds
Book Synopsis
£5.90
Chartwell Books Monsters of Myth and Legend Coloring Book
Book SynopsisFeaturing classic, recognizable monsters from timeless stories, this coloring book is ideal for fans of the books, movies, and folklore that inspired it, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Bram Stoker'sDracula to timeless folktales from around the world.
£7.59
Titan Books Ltd Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu: The Adventure of the
Book SynopsisThe third novel in six-time New York Times best-selling author Lois H. Gresh’s Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu series. THE OBLITERATING SHADOW The deadly dimensions over London have been sealed, and the monsters have departed. But word has come to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson of a more terrifying creature still – the great Cthulhu has been sighted off the waters of Innsmouth, Massachusetts. Only Holmes can defeat him. And in the muddy village of Innsmouth, surrounded by villagers who are more sea-monster than human, Holmes meets again his nemesis, Moriarty, and yet greater foes: Amelia Scarcliffe and Maria Fitzgerald, harbingers of Dagon, who have called forth Cthulhu. Their task: to bring about the end of humankind, and begin the realm of nightmares on Earth.Trade Review‘delightful’ - Barnes & Noble SFF BlogI"f you’re in the mood for excitement, thrills, and over-the-top battles with extraterrestrial creatures, the Sherlock Holmes Vs. Cthulhu series will cause you to scream for more!" - George Kelley
£7.59
British Library Publishing The Weird Tales of William Hope Hodgson
Book SynopsisThis new selection offers the most chilling and unsettling of Hodgson's short fiction, from encounters with abominations at sea to fireside tales of otherworldly forces from his inventive `occult detective' character Carnacki, the ghost finder.Table of ContentsIntroduction; `A Tropical Horror' (1905); `The Voice in the Night' (1907); 'Out of the Storm' (1908); `The Gateway of the Monster' (1910); `The Horse of the Invisible' (1910); `The Whistling Room' (1910); `The Derelict' (1912); `The Thing in the Weeds' (1916); `The Hog' (1947); `The Riven Night' (1973)
£9.49
British Library Publishing Beyond Time
Book SynopsisIn this collection, featuring stories from the 1880s to the 1960s, we are taken to the remote future and back to the distant past. We are trapped in an eternal loop and met with visitors and objects from the future. We come face to face with our past selves, and experience the chaos of living out of sync with everyone else in the universe.Table of ContentsCONTENTS Introduction, Mike Ashley xxx The Clock That Went Backward, Edward Page Mitchell xxx The Queer Story of Brownlow’s Newspaper, H. G. Wells xxx Omega, Amelia Reynolds Long xxx The Book of Worlds, Miles J. Breuer xxx The Branches of Time, David R. Daniels xxx Friday the Nineteenth, Elizabeth Sanxay Holding xxx Look After the Strange Girl, J. B. Priestley xxx Time’s Arrow, Arthur C. Clarke xxx Manna, Peter Phillips xxx Tenth Time Around, J. T. McIntosh xxx The Shadow People, Arthur Sellings xxx Thirty-Seven Times, E. C. Tubb xxx Dial `O’ for Operator, Robert Presslie xxx
£8.54
British Library Publishing Promethean Horrors Classic Tales of Mad Science
Book SynopsisFrom the imaginations of Gothic short-story writers such as Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mary Shelley and H.P. Lovecraft came one of the most complex of villains - the mad scientist. Promethean Horrors presents some of the greatest mad scientists ever created, as each cautionary tale explores the consequences of pushing nature too far.
£9.49
British Library Publishing The Dead of Summer
Book SynopsisA unique collection focusing on an important but overlooked stretch of the ritual year, and the surprising wealth of fiction devoted to the uncanny and liminal time of May Day Eve, Walpurgis Night and the Summer Solstice. Featuring stories from classic authors such as E. F. Benson and Joan Aiken along with lost classics from obscure periodicals of
£15.29
British Library Publishing A Phantom Lover
Book SynopsisThis collection of Vernon Lee's uniquely weird short stories and dark fantasies proves why she was once considered among the best of the genre, and why she deserves to return to those ranks today.
£12.68
British Library Publishing Chill Tidings
Book SynopsisWelcome to the second new collection of dark Christmas stories in the Tales of the Weird series, ushering in a fresh host of nightmarish phantoms and otherworldly intruders bent on joining or ruining the most wonderful time of the year.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Florence and Giles
Book SynopsisA sinister Gothic tale in the tradition of The Woman in Black and The Fall of the House of Usher1891. In a remote and crumbling New England mansion, 12-year-old orphan Florence is neglected by her guardian uncle and banned from reading. Left to her own devices she devours books in secret and talks to herself - and narrates this, her story - in a unique language of her own invention. By night, she sleepwalks the corridors like one of the old house''s many ghosts and is troubled by a recurrent dream in which a mysterious woman appears to threaten her younger brother Giles. Sometimes Florence doesn''t sleepwalk at all, but simply pretends to so she can roam at will and search the house for clues to her own baffling past.After the sudden violent death of the children''s first governess, a second teacher, Miss Taylor, arrives, and immediately strange phenomena begin to occur. Florence becomes convinced that the new governess is a vengeful and malevolent spirit who means to do Giles harm. AgTrade Review‘Real atmosphere is increasingly rare in novels and here it is in spades…A darkly glamorous tour de force.’Wendy Holden, DAILY MAIL 'Harding rings enough ingenious changes on James's study of perversity to produce his own full-blown Gothic horror tale. The climax of their struggle… is genuinely exciting and shocking.' THE INDEPENDENT ‘Florence and Giles is an elegant literary exercise worked out with the strictness of a fugue: imagine Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw reworked by Edgar Allan Poe…Nothing prepares you for the chillingly ruthless but inevitable finale.’ THE TIMES 'A tight gothic thriller… The climax becomes unbearably tense. Florence feels the horror of her situation "cheese-grating" her soul, which is just how Harding leaves the reader feeling at the end of this creepily suggestive story.' FINANACIAL TIMES ‘Harding’s creepy, ingenious tale slyly wrongfoots the reader, and its deliciously sinister conclusion is the stuff of troubled nights.’ THE LADY ‘Brilliantly creepy’ DAILY MIRROR ‘An intriguing read’ GRAZIA ‘A good, clever, modern take on old-style American gothic; a creepy haunted house tale in which the living are just as eerie as any real or imagined ghouls.’ NEW ZEALAND HERALD ‘a scarily good story, in an arrestingly unusual narrative voice.’ THE OXFORD TIMES
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Collins Classics FRANKENSTEIN Mary Shelley
Book SynopsisIn the most famous gothic horror story ever told, Shelley confronts the limitations of science, the nature of human cruelty and the pathway to forgiveness.The rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open'Victor Frankenstein's monster is stitched together from the limbs of the dead, taken from the dissecting room and the slaughter-house'. The result is a grotesque being who, rejected by his maker and starved of human companionship, sets out on a journey to seek his revenge. In the most famous gothic horror story ever told, Shelley confronts the limitations of science, the nature of human cruelty and the pathway to forgiveness.Begun when Mary Shelley was only eighteen years old and published two years later, this chilling tale of a young scientist's desire to create life and the consequences of that creation still resonates today.
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers In the Dark Tales of Terror by E. Nesbit Collins
Book SynopsisEdith Nesbit's natural gift for storytelling has brought her worldwide renown as a classic children's author. But beyond her beloved children's stories lay a darker side to her imagination, revealed here in her chilling tales of the supernatural.Haunted by lifelong phobias which provoked, in her own words, nights and nights of anguish and horror, long years of bitterest fear and dread', Nesbit was inspired to pen terrifying stories of a twilight world where the dead walked the earth.All but forgotten for almost a hundred years until In the Dark was first published 30 years ago, this collection finally restored Nesbit's reputation as a one of the most accomplished and entertaining ghost-story writers of the Victorian age.With seven extra newly-discovered stories now appearing for the first time in paperback, this revised edition includes an introduction by Hugh Lamb exploring the life of the woman behind these tales and the events and experiences that contributed to her fascination withTrade Review‘Deliciously creepy and wide-ranging. And some fascinating illuminations of the social mores of the time. Like almost everyone else, I only knew Edith Nesbit's writing for children. But once you're in the mood to be given the shivers, have a go at these.’ Amazon reviews
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Ghosts in the House Tales of Terror by A. C.
Book SynopsisA collection of rare ghosts and horror stories by the brothers of one of the finest writers of the genre, E. F. Benson.The Benson brothers Arthur Christopher, Edward Frederic and Robert Hugh were one of the most extraordinary and prolific literary families, between them writing more than 150 books. Arthur alone left four million words of diary, although his most lasting legacy is the words to Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, while Fred is acknowledged as one of the finest writers of Edwardian supernatural fiction: the name E. F. Benson is mentioned in the same breath as other greats such as M. R. James and H. R. Wakefield.In fact, all three brothers wrote ghost stories, although the work of Arthur and Hugh in this field has long been overshadowed by their brother's success. Now the best supernatural tales of A. C. and R. H. Benson have been gathered into one volume by anthologist Hugh Lamb, whose introduction examines the lives and writings of these two complex and fascinating men. OrTrade Review‘If you have read the ghost stories of M.R. James, you will already be familiar with the basic formula used to construct these stories … the language of these shows the influence of the fantasies of William Morris and George Macdonald.’ Amazon reviews
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Plain Bad Heroines The extraordinary new gothic
Book SynopsisBrimming from start to finish with sly humour and gothic mischief' SARAH WATERS Beguilingly clever, very sexy and seriously frightening' GUARDIANAtmospheric, sexy, creepytotally addictive' KATE DAVIES, author of In At The Deep EndA gloriously over-the-top queer romp' I PAPER_________________________________________________________________It's a terrible story and one way to tell it is this: two girls in love and a fog of wasps cursed the place forever after'BROOKHANTS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS: Infamous site of a series of tragic deaths over a hundred years ago. Soon to be the subject of a controversial horror movie about the rumoured Brookhants curse':In the early 1900's, Brookhants students Flo and Clara fell madly in love, brought together by their obsession for a scandalous memoir.A few months later they were found dead in the woods, after a horrific wasp attack, the book lying next to their intertwined bodies.Three more grisly deaths followed before the school was forced to close.Now, the Trade Review‘Brimming from start to finish with sly humour and gothic mischief, Plain Bad Heroines is a brilliant piece of exuberant storytelling by a terrifically talented author’ SARAH WATERS ‘Full of Victorian sapphic romance, metafictional horror, biting misandrist humor, Hollywood intrigue, and multiple timeliness—all replete with evocative illustrations that are icing on a deviously delicious cake’ O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE ‘A gloriously over-the-top queer romp’ I PAPER, top picks for 2021 ‘Big and messy – and immensely enjoyable’ I PAPER ‘Spooky, sexy and immensely entertaining’ CLAIRE HENNESSY,THE IRISH TIMES ‘I can tell you that it is a ride very much worth taking. One full of the Gothic and the glamour, brimming with historically bad heroines and women with warped predilections, but there is one thing I have failed to mention so far: the yellowjackets. Their buzzing echoes eerily throughout the pages of Plain Bad Heroines, the consequences of their repeated stings are devastating and reverberate across the centuries’ DIVA MAGAZINE ‘Plain Bad Heroines is immersive, addictive, frustrating and highly entertaining featuring a brilliant cast of extremely eccentric, yet very intriguing, characters. A tale made for the big screen I would think!’ SWIRL AND THREAD ‘Immensely enjoyable’ SCOTSMAN ‘A labyrinthine tale in every way, slowly unfolding horror after horror with a sense of creeping dread and inevitability invading every page’ Palatinate
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Sleep Tight from the Sunday Times bestseller
Book SynopsisA brand new detective series with a supernatural twist. The X Files meets Line of Duty in this gripping thriller!Eerie, original and compelling' C.L. TaylorTense and twisted' Susi HollidayA brilliant, clever murder mystery' Jane CaseyEven in your dreams you're not safeThe nightmare is only just beginningWhen DC Rose Gifford is called to investigate the death of a young woman suffocated in her bed, she can't shake the feeling that there's more to the crime than meets the eye.It looks like a straightforward crime scene but the police can't find the killer. Enter DS Moony an eccentric older detective who runs UCIT, a secret department of the Met set up to solve supernatural crimes. Moony wants Rose to help her out but Rose doesn't believe in any of that.Does she?As the killer prepares to strike again, Rose must pick a side before a second woman dies.Twisty, original and compelling, SLEEP TIGHT is perfect for fans of Alex North and Cara Hunter.PRAISE FOR C.S. GREEN:Brilliant' Jenny BlaTrade Review PRAISE FOR SLEEP TIGHT: ‘Eerie, original and compelling’ C.L. Taylor ‘Tightly plotted, perfectly paced, and beautifully written, the story builds to a tense and terrifying conclusion. The introduction of a secret police department set up to solve crimes with a supernatural element is original and exciting’Amanda Jennings ‘Brilliant’ Jenny Blackhurst ‘Pulse-pounding’ Caroline Mitchell ‘This locked door mystery had me hooked from the first page, and the creeping intensity builds to a heart-racing finish’ Rachael Blok ‘Caroline is one talented author’ Chris McDonald ‘Loved this genre-blending, original page turner’ Niki Mackay 'A smart police procedural with an unnerving supernatural spin, Sleep Tight promises great things for CS Green's new series and introduces an intriguing and complex lead' Eva Dolan ‘A refreshingly original thriller. Beautifully written and deliciously creepy, Sleep Tight hooked me from the very first line’ Sarah Stovell ‘Creepy, intriguing and a total page turner’ Michelle Davies ‘Rose Gifford is as brilliant a character as Susie Steiner’s Manon’ Louise Voss 'A classy police procedural with gritty characters and a delicious paranormal edge' Jane Isaac ‘A gripping, fascinating and tense novel’ Neil Lancaster A great premise, complex characters and a supernatural twist. If you’ve ever had trouble sleeping, you’ll be totally gripped’ Paul Burston ‘A pacy police procedural with a sprinkling of the supernatural and a likeable heroine—what’s not to love?’ Lisa Gray ‘It’s rare to find a truly original police procedural, but here it is! Eerie and tense, a locked-room mystery leads us into a world of supernatural crime detection’ Jo Furniss ‘The perfect blend of crime, thriller and supernatural’ Sam Carrington
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Haunting of Moscow House
Book SynopsisIn this elegant gothic horror tale set in post-revolutionary Russia, two formerly aristocratic sisters race to uncover their family''s long-buried secrets in a house haunted by a past dangerous and deadly to remember.It is the summer of 1921, and a group of Bolsheviks have taken over Irina and Lili Goliteva''s ancestral home in Moscow, a stately mansion falling into disrepair and decay. The remaining members of their family are ordered to move into the cramped attic, while the officials take over an entire wing of grand rooms downstairs. The sisters understand it is the way of things and know they must forget their noble upbringing to make their way in this new Soviet Russia. But the house begins to whisper of a traumatic past not as dead as they thought.Eager to escape it and their unwelcome new landlords, Irina and Lili find jobs with the recently arrived American Relief Administration, meant to ease the post-revolutionary famine in Russia. For the sisters, the ARA provides much-ne
£17.09
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Sentence
Book Synopsis
£16.15
HarperCollins A Good House for Children
Book Synopsis
£16.14
Vintage Publishing The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Tales
Book SynopsisHoward Phillips Lovecraft was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 20, 1890. His father, a traveling salesman, suffered a nervous breakdown three years later and was hospitalised until his death in 1898, from a form of syphilis. Lovecraft's family experienced financial difficulties after the death of his grandfather in 1904, and the shame of this deeply affected the young writer. His relationship with his mother was severely troubled, and she was also hospitalised after a nervous breakdown in 1919. After a brief marriage and a period living in Brooklyn where he first began publishing his stories in the magazine Weird Tales, Lovecraft returned to Providence where he continued to write stories, and supported himself through ghost-writing. He continued to be plagued by money problems, and died in relative poverty on March 15, 1937. His numerous stories, novellas and poem were never collected and properly published during his lifetime.Trade ReviewThe twentieth century horror story's dark and baroque prince -- Stephen KingDark, weird tales about tentacled beasts, ancient artifacts that ooze unidentifiable slime and baby-eating cultists eager to bring about the end of the world * New York Times *Lovecraft found a voice that was profoundly his own -- and brought horror into the 20th century. His best stories sent the gothic into collision with science fiction and offered a bleak vision of a world whose thin veneer of civilization was being stripped away by an implacable zeal for knowledge * Washington Post *The founding father of what has become known as "weird fiction''...Lovecraft has nothing in common with Anita Brookner * Daily Telegraph *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Im the King of the Castle
Book SynopsisDiscover a chilling twentieth century classic, delving into the dark and complex heart of childhood''Some people are coming here today, now you will have a companion.''But young Edmund Hooper doesn''t want anyone else in Warings, the rambling Victorian house he shares with his widowed father. Nevertheless Charles Kingshaw and his mother are soon installed and Edmund sets about persecuting his fearful new playmate.From the dusty back rooms of Warings through the gloomy labyrinth of Hang Wood to the very top of Leydell Castle, Edmund pursues Charles, the balance of power slipping back and forth between bully and victim. With their parents oblivious, the situation speeds towards a crisis...Darkly claustrophobic and morally ambiguous, Susan Hill weaves a classic tale of cruelty, power, and the dangerous games we play as children.''A brilliant tour de force'' Guardian''Equalled for poignancy and horror only in Lord of the Flies'' Sunday Telegraph''Delves beneath the surface of complex young minds, exposing not only their vulnerabilty and tenderness, their cruelty and malevolence, but also how parents end up turning a blind eye to their pain'' Anita SethiTrade ReviewHill's exploration of a juvenile ghoul and his natural prey is a brilliant tour de force * Guardian *Equalled for poignancy and horror only in Lord of the Flies * Sunday Telegraph *Delves beneath the surface of complex young minds, exposing not only their vulnerability and tenderness, their cruelty and malevolence, but also how parents end up turning a blind eye to their pain -- Anita Sethi, 'Guardian'
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Book SynopsisLiving in the Blackwood family home with only her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian for company, Merricat just wants to preserve their delicate way of life. But ever since Constance was acquitted of murdering the rest of the family, the world isn't leaving the Blackwoods alone.Trade ReviewHer greatest book ... at once whimsical and harrowing, a miniaturist's charmingly detailed fantasy sketched inside a mausoleum ... the deeper we sink, the deeper we want to go. -- Donna TarttThe world of Shirley Jackson is eerie and unforgettable ... She is a true master. -- A. M. HomesA masterpiece of Gothic suspense. -- Joyce Carol OatesIf you haven't read We Have Always Lived in the Castle ... you have missed out on something marvellous. -- Neil GaimanHer greatest book ... at once whimsical and harrowing, a miniaturist's charmingly detailed fantasy sketched inside a mausoleum ... Through depths and depths and bloodwarm depths we fall, until the surface is only an eerie gleam high above, nearly forgotten; and the deeper we sink, the deeper we want to go -- Donna TarttThis novel brings back all my faith in terror and death. I can say no higher of it and her -- Dorothy Parker * Esquire *An amazing writer -- Neil GaimanThe world of Shirley Jackson is eerie and unforgettable ... She is a true master -- A. M. HomesA masterpiece of Gothic suspense -- Joyce Carol OatesSo eerie, so disturbing, and not a wasted word, it has the kind of economy I wish I knew how to achieve -- Jonathan CoeFor me, it is that unique and dreamlike book ... that stands as her masterpiece -- Jonathan LethemWe Have Always Lived in the Castle is Jackson's masterpiece ... Stunning -- Elaine ShowalterManages the ironic miracle of convincing the reader that a house inhabited by a lunatic, a poisoner, and a pyromaniac is a world more rich in sympathy, love and subtlety than the world outside * Time *A witch's brew of eerie power and startling novelty * The New York Times *A marvellous elucidation of life ... a story full of craft and full of mystery * The New York Times Book Review *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Phantom of the Opera
Book SynopsisThe Phantom of the Opera is Gaston Leroux''s exquisite blend of Gothic horror and tragic romance, which formed the basis for a world-renowned stage musical. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by Mireille Ribiere, and an introduction by Jann Matlock.When the new managers of the Paris Opera House ignore their predecessors'' warnings about the hideous ''Opera ghost'' stalking the theatre, it is a fatal mistake. The Phantom haunts the imagination of the beautiful and talented singer Christine Daaé, appearing to her as the ''Angel of Music'' - a disembodied voice, coaching her to sing as she never could before. When Christine is courted by a handsome young Viscount, the Phantom is consumed by jealousy and seeks revenge. And when Christine suddenly disappears after a triumphant singing performance, it becomes clear that the Phantom''s time has come. With its pervading atmosphere of menace, tinged with dark humour, The Phantom of the Opera (1910) has inspired film, stage and literature since its publication, including Andrew Lloyd Webber''s Phantom of the Opera, the most successful theatrical show of all time. Mireille Ribière''s highly readable and historically accurate translation captures the drive and drama of Leroux''s vivid tale, and is accompanied by extensive notes and further reading. Jann Matlock''s fascinating new introduction examines the Phantom''s legacy and uncovers the real secrets hidden in the Paris Opera House.Gaston Leroux (1868-1927) was born in Paris, the son of a building contractor. His first novel was serialised in the late 1890s, and with the 1907 publication of The Mystery of the Yellow Room he launched his career as a pioneer of the French detective novel. The Phantom of the Opera (1910) has been Leroux''s best-known novel in the English-speaking world ever since the resounding success of the 1925 silent film version.If you enjoyed The Phantom of the Opera, you might like Victor Hugo''s Les Miserables, also available in Penguin Classics.Trade Review“Ingenious . . . breathless suspense.”—The Nation
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Picture of Dorian Gray
Book SynopsisEnthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. The novel was a succès de scandale and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895. It has lost none of its power to fascinate and disturb.
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd Frankenstein
Book SynopsisOne of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World'The Penguin English Library Edition of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley'Never did I behold a vision so horrible as his face, of such loathsome, yet appalling hideousness'A twisted, upside-down creation myth, Mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale lays bare the dark side of science, and the horror within us all. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, who plunders graveyards to create a new being from the bodies of the dead - but whose botched creature causes nothing but murder and destruction. Written after a nightmare when its author was only eighteen, Frankenstein gave birth to the modern science fiction novel.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Book SynopsisThe Penguin English Library Edition of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson''All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil''Published as a ''shilling shocker'', Robert Louis Stevenson''s dark psychological fantasy gave birth to the idea of the split personality. The story of respectable Dr Jekyll''s strange association with ''damnable young man'' Edward Hyde; the hunt through fog-bound London for a killer; and the final revelation of Hyde''s true identity is a chilling exploration of humanity''s basest capacity for evil.This edition also includes Stevenson''s chilling story ''The Bottle Imp''.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
£7.99
Penguin Publishing Group The Turn of the Screw and Other Ghost Stories
Book SynopsisA chilling new collection of Henry James's short stories exploring the uncanny, including The Turn of the Screw, the basis for the new Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor In The Turn of the Screw, one of the most famous ghost stories of all time, a governess becomes obsessed with the belief that malevolent forces are stalking the children in her care. It is accompanied here by several more of the very best of Henry James's short stories, all exploring ghosts and the uncanny. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best w
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Frankenstein
Book SynopsisObsessed by creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life by electricity. But his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear.Trade ReviewMary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the masterpieces of nineteenth-century Gothicism. While stay-ing in the Swiss Alps in 1816 with her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, Mary, then eighteen, began to concoct the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brings to life by electricity. Written in a time of great personal tragedy, it is a subversive and morbid story warning against the dehumanization of art and the corrupting influence of science. Packed with allusions and literary references, it is also one of the best thrillers ever written. Frankenstein; Or, the Modern Prometheus was an instant bestseller on publication in 1818. The prototype of the science fiction novel, it has spawned countless imitations and adaptations but retains its original power.This Modern Library edition includes a new Introduction by Wendy Steiner, the chair of the English department at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Scandal of Pleasure. Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in 1797 in London. She eloped to France with Shelley, whom she married in 1816. After Frankenstein, she wrote several novels, including Valperga and Falkner, and edited editions of the poetry of Shelley, who had died in 1822. Mary Shelley died in London in 1851.
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Frankenstein Or the Modern Prometheus Penguin
Book SynopsisObsessed with the idea of creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material with which to fashion a new being, shocking his creation to life with electricity. But this botched creature, rejected by its creator and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy Frankenstein and all that he holds dear.Trade ReviewMary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the masterpieces of nineteenth-century Gothicism. While stay-ing in the Swiss Alps in 1816 with her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, Mary, then eighteen, began to concoct the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brings to life by electricity. Written in a time of great personal tragedy, it is a subversive and morbid story warning against the dehumanization of art and the corrupting influence of science. Packed with allusions and literary references, it is also one of the best thrillers ever written. Frankenstein; Or, the Modern Prometheus was an instant bestseller on publication in 1818. The prototype of the science fiction novel, it has spawned countless imitations and adaptations but retains its original power.This Modern Library edition includes a new Introduction by Wendy Steiner, the chair of the English department at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Scandal of Pleasure. Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in 1797 in London. She eloped to France with Shelley, whom she married in 1816. After Frankenstein, she wrote several novels, including Valperga and Falkner, and edited editions of the poetry of Shelley, who had died in 1822. Mary Shelley died in London in 1851.
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd Dracula Stoker Bram Penguin Classics
Book SynopsisBram Stoker's peerless tale of desperate battle against a powerful, ancient vampire When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries in his client's castle. Soon afterwards, disturbing incidents unfold in England: a ship runs aground on the shores of Whitby, its crew vanished; beautiful Lucy Westenra slowly succumbs to a mysterious, wasting illness, her blood drained away; and the lunatic Renfield raves about the imminent arrival of his 'master'. In the ensuing battle of wills between the sinister Count and a determined group of adversaries - led by the intrepid vampire hunter Abraham van Helsing - Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing into questions of identity, sanity and the dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire. For this completely updated edition, Maurice Hindle has revised his introduction, list of further reading and notes, and added two appendices: StTrade Review"Those who cannot find their own reflection in Bram Stoker's still-living creation are surely the undead."
£8.65
Penguin Books Ltd The Picture of Dorian Gray
Book SynopsisEnthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence.
£15.29