Heathcliff
It only takes a few words to change the course of a life..."It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now." Cathy's immortal words had far-reaching repercussions. At just seventeen years of age, heartbroken and penniless, Heathcliff left behind all he knew and headed into an unknown future. Three years later, he returned - much improved in manners, appearance and wealth. But what happened during those years? How did he make his fortune from nothing? And what fate turned him into literature's most famous anti-hero? For almost two centuries, these questions have remained unanswered. Until now...
Toccoa's Echoes
Chad Campbell, Stephanie Johnson and Steve Smith, along with the rest of the McDowell Mills cast of characters, return to unravel a new mystery surrounding another ghost in the First New Jerusalem Methodist cemetery.The death of Albert Abbott in his home in 1957 - in a house fire rumored to have been set by his wife, Helena - was a story that had long been all but forgotten by the gossips in town. Still, Albert rose from his grave each day and attended church with the other ghosts - never speaking or acknowledging anyone else, living or dead.After a long search through state records, Stephanie discovers that Helena is still living, a resident in an assisted-living facility in Lavonia, a town in far northern Georgia that in many ways resembles their own town, and the three students travel with town librarian Miss Roberts to visit her.But when they arrive, what they learn from Helena changes their understanding of their local legend - and a new friend, Toccoa student Janie Sawyer, joins them as they learn about a past tragedy, and uncover a much deeper mystery in the Great Smoky Mountains...
Tiger in the Blood
An ancient Chinese wooden box, a conflicted young woman ... and a lost soul who vows to return from the grave.The puzzling contents of an old Chinese box tell the story of a forgotten murder in nineteenth century outback Australia. The convicted murderer, Hok, was executed by hanging from the gallows of Brisbane's notorious Boggo Road Gaol. On death row he vowed to return from the grave and avenge himself against those who lied to convict him. Haunted by Hok's hungry ghost Eirene endeavours to find the truth behind the crime-who killed the baker and why? -and to set his soul free. Issues of race, identity and belonging reverberate in a mystery that begins in the old treaty port of Amoy in China and ends on the banks of the Brisbane River.
Braving Storms
A hurricane, visions, and vengeance. When she receives an eerie message from beyond the grave, can this new witch survive the coming tempest?Atlas Cliffs, Maine. Drew Harlow's soul vibrates with creativity. Home from college and ready for surfing, bonfires, and romance with her love, the talented mystic's magic flows through her paintbrush, unexpectedly bringing the Neptune Point lighthouse into vivid life. But after her struggles leave the art unfinished, she's startled by the appearance of a ghost whose cryptic warning leaves her canvas dripping red.Unsettled by her inability to decipher the unnerving symbol, Drew focuses her attention on helping the spirit of a feisty young woman who has no idea she's dead. Though when she uses her gifts to show the ghost the truth, she's horrified to discover the unfortunate deceased was a victim of an all-too-familiar killer behind bars.As ominous clouds and a foreboding raven loom, can she unravel the puzzle before she's the next to cross over?Braving Storms is the intense third book in the Atlas Cliffs new adult supernatural mystery series. If you like relatable characters, slow-burn love interests, and dark intrigue, you'll adore Angela van Liempt's haunting page-turner.Buy Braving Storms and confront the shadows today!
Sierra Oscar Sierra
How do you send an SOS when the world thinks you're living a perfect life?Sierra Mallory has it all-an adoring husband, a promising career as a clinical psychologist, and a life that seems picture-perfect. But when her husband, Oscar Teague, a high-ranking officer in the Marines, returns from a harrowing helicopter crash, everything changes. The man who once held her close is now a stranger, his love twisted by a darkness she can't comprehend.As Oscar's behavior grows increasingly erratic, Sierra fears for her safety, but she's determined to save their marriage and uncover the truth behind his transformation. What she doesn't know is that the truth is far more terrifying than she could ever imagine.After a tragic accident claims her life, Sierra finds herself caught between worlds, her spirit bound by unanswered questions and a love that refuses to let go. As she pieces together the reality of what really happened, she must confront the ultimate betrayal and decide if love can ever be enough to forgive the unforgivable.In a gripping tale of passion, suspense, and heart-wrenching choices, Sierra Oscar Sierra explores the lengths one woman will go to for the man she loves-even if it means breaking free from the life they once shared.
All The People Who Died Here
In the hidden folds of the world, Lily possesses a gift unlike any other - the ability to hear the untold stories of the departed. In All the People Who Died Here, Lily's journey unfolds as she listens to the echoes of forgotten lives, each whisper revealing a new layer of truth. From the tender sighs of unrequited love to the haunting melodies of lost dreams, Lily becomes intertwined with the souls she encounters, their stories becoming her own. But as she delves deeper into the labyrinth of human emotion, she realises that some secrets are better left buried. In this captivating tale of love, loss and redemption, Lily must confront the shadows of the past to find her own path to freedom. All the People Who Died Here is a poignant exploration of the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit.
Specter Inspector
Nothing is as it seems in the land of MysteryWelcome to sleazy Shigaqua, capital of Noir, where the line blurs most between friend and foe, mentor and monster, and victim and villain.Among the dense population of law enforcers and private investigators, Aeron Spade has a unique edge to solve crime: he can visit the dead in his dreams. With the help of his ghostly friends (including Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Auguste Dupin), Aeron is determined to use his gift to bring justice against the city's most elusive criminals. He's on track to become the newest recruit of Noir's most prestigious private investigations agency, but first, he must prove his mettle by solving the dead-end case of a young boy's murder in a haunted theater.Lacking support from the police or his potential employer, Aeron must use his own resources to defend the accused and find the real killer. However, Aeron's few living contacts are occupied with treacherous cases that dredge up his paralyzing fears and threaten to expose his true identity. In a city teeming with mobsters and sleuths, keeping his own secrets may be more challenging than uncovering those of a vengeful poltergeist.Join Aeron's haunted cases in Specter Inspector, book one of the Dead and Back Again series, and follow-up of C. Rae D'Arc's Haunted Romance trilogy. If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Jonathan Stroud's Anthony Lockwood, or Daisuke Kambe (Millionaire Detective, by Yasutaka Tsutsui), then prepare to fall in love with Aeron Spade in this story that readers call "so clever," "fun," and "intriguing!"
Sierra Oscar Sierra
How do you send an SOS when the world thinks you're living a perfect life?Sierra Mallory has it all-an adoring husband, a promising career as a clinical psychologist, and a life that seems picture-perfect. But when her husband, Oscar Teague, a high-ranking officer in the Marines, returns from a harrowing helicopter crash, everything changes. The man who once held her close is now a stranger, his love twisted by a darkness she can't comprehend.As Oscar's behavior grows increasingly erratic, Sierra fears for her safety, but she's determined to save their marriage and uncover the truth behind his transformation. What she doesn't know is that the truth is far more terrifying than she could ever imagine.After a tragic accident claims her life, Sierra finds herself caught between worlds, her spirit bound by unanswered questions and a love that refuses to let go. As she pieces together the reality of what really happened, she must confront the ultimate betrayal and decide if love can ever be enough to forgive the unforgivable.In a gripping tale of passion, suspense, and heart-wrenching choices, Sierra Oscar Sierra explores the lengths one woman will go to for the man she loves-even if it means breaking free from the life they once shared.
Waiting for Gabe
"Gabe, honey, roll onto your side." Immediately Irish regrets her whisper, but the words meant for her husband slipped so naturally from her lips. Thus 36-year-old widower Gabriel Hart's meticulously planned day begins and continues to unfold with unexpected and heart-wrenching twists and turns. Each tests the pragmatic foster care survivor to accept life on love's terms, including the tragic death three years before of the Harts' nine-year-old Leesie at the hands of a hit-and-run drunk driver. On this day he faces the challenge to keep the two promises he made one year ago at Irish's deathbed: his vow to her to look into the eyes of the prisoner who took their little girl's life and a solemn promise he made to himself. In this unusual novel, the reader is allowed to view the death and grief suffered by one family and how it impacts multiple people. The author deftly shifts the narration among key people in Gabe's life. A multilayered portrait of the transcending nature of the human condition-birth, death, love, loss, and forgiveness, this literary fiction explores matters of life-and-death, while the author's love of humor and its life-affirming qualities create magical moments that provide a distinct perspective on the human experience. Waiting for Gabe: the pivotal day immovable grief meets unstoppable love.
Better Get to Livin’
From USA Today bestselling author Sally Kilpatrick comes a touching laugh-out-loud story of ghosts of the past and hope for the future... Presley Cline turns heads and stops clocks. The prettiest girl in town, she ran off to Hollywood only to find Tinsel Town is full of the prettiest girls from hundreds of small towns-and their ghosts. Since Presley can commune with the dead, she would know. Not that she can tell anyone. Declan Anderson is dead tired of the funeral business. He has other dreams, modest they may be, but he's never been able to leave town like Presley did. He's burned out and stuck in a rut. Then Presley shows up with her cosmetology case. A few folks in the funeral home-one living, many dead-now know Presley's secret. Will the meddling of the dearly departed help both her and Dec to follow their own dreams? Or will long lost secrets and a slew of unmet dying wishes keep them from truly living?
Hemlock Island
A standalone horror novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong. Laney Kilpatrick has been renting her vacation home to strangers. The invasion of privacy gives her panic attacks, but it's the only way she can keep her beloved Hemlock Island, the only thing she owns after a pandemic-fueled divorce. But broken belongings and campfires that nearly burn down the house have escalated to bloody bones, hex circles, and now, terrified renters who've fled after finding blood and nail marks all over the guest room closet, as though someone tried to claw their way out...and failed. When Laney shows up to investigate with her teenaged niece in tow, she discovers that her ex, Kit, has also been informed and is there with Jayla, his sister and her former best friend. Then Sadie, another old high school friend, charters over with her brother, who's now a cop. There are tensions and secrets, whispers in the woods, and before long, the discovery of a hand poking up from the earth. Then the body that goes with it... But by that time, someone has taken off with their one and only means off the island, and they're trapped with someone--or something--that doesn't want them leaving the island alive.
Mr. Nightmare
Bored in the middle of another summer vacation, Anna, her brother Chuck, and their friendsJohn, Merrie and Marcus plan to meet in the woods at midnight every Saturday to tell scarystories. They call their group The Nightmare Club and they get together to see who tells thescariest stories throughout summer and into the fall when they head back to school. The groupbecomes inseparable, looking forward to the meetings every week as they try to outdo eachother. But, their late-night fun turns to terror when they learn an other-worldy being-known tothem as Mr. Nightmare-has taken an interest in them and has been feeding on their dreams. Mr. Nightmare continues to taunt and torment the group until they decide to fight back againsttheir tormentor. The more The Nightmare Club fights back however, the more dangerous Mr.Nightmare becomes.
The Cliff House
Angel has always lived a wild and free lifestyle but when things turn deadly, she wants out...On the trail of his missing sister, Seb Straeker - a battle-hardened US Army Ranger gone AWOL - tracks Angel's last known location to a remote northern town on an almost forgotten coast.Jaz Freeman - an undercover FBI agent - is drawn to the town when trying to uncover a series of cold case murders.For Jaz and Seb, the secrets of the town become a deadly game neither expected. Racing the clock with lives in the balance, both must find the strength to face their fears, to confront the unspeakable, and ultimately to survive...
The Cliff House
Angel has always lived a wild and free lifestyle but when things turn deadly, she wants out...On the trail of his missing sister, Seb Straeker - a battle-hardened US Army Ranger gone AWOL - tracks Angel's last known location to a remote northern town on an almost forgotten coast.Jaz Freeman - an undercover FBI agent - is drawn to the town when trying to uncover a series of cold case murders.For Jaz and Seb, the secrets of the town become a deadly game neither expected. Racing the clock with lives in the balance, both must find the strength to face their fears, to confront the unspeakable, and ultimately to survive...
Dark Waters
Michelle has a gift. It's a gift that haunts her... Michelle leaves Australia and begins a new life in London, away from the pain caused by her cheating husband and her own infertility. But Michelle is not like others. She can see and speak to the dead. When she encounters Ned, who died in 1848, she wonders what is keeping his spirit trapped. As she explores Ned's past, she learns of the tragic fate of Clara, Ned's lover. But now that Michelle knows what haunts Ned, can she help free him, and herself at the same time? Sometimes, the key to unlocking a happier future lies in the dark waters of the past... Dark Waters is a haunting novel about learning to set yourself free from the sins of the past.
The Inhabitants
After a run of misfortune, portrait artist Nilda Ricci could use a stroke of luck. She seems to get just that when she inherits a shadowy Victorian, designed by an architect whose works were said to influence the mind-- supposedly, in beneficial ways. At first, Nilda's new home delivers multiple gifts, including the unexpected appearance of a housekeeper who' d helped maintain the home for years. Also, Nilda finds herself falling for a handsome neighbor, a chemist whose herbal tonics boost her creativity to new heights. But as Nilda seeks revenge-by-painting against a contempt-worthy portrait subject, she begins having strange experiences in the house, making her wonder whether the place is haunted or whether its architect's intentions were less than benevolent. She also begins to suspect that her neighbor, and his gifts of tonics, aren't what they seem. All along, the housekeeper seems to be looking out for Nilda. But in time she reveals needs of her own, which may prove more powerful than anything in the house ... or beyond it.
Ghost House
Five acquaintances decide to spend the weekend telling ghost stories at a country house; together they provide a journalist's view, spiritual sensibilities, holistic understanding, and the desire for adventure. The house offers more than they bargained for: evil resides there; so does a possible guardian - angel or ghost?"My name is Anna. I waken sometimes to the sound of birds, wind, a voice, or for no reason I can determine. Perhaps from longing, which is also why I sleep. I'm slow to wake, unsure which time I'm in. I do try to care for this house as always-want to care for it, because it's my home, and dear to me-but I must learn again. I work at learning. I can see my son, speak with him, kiss his cheek, take his hand, and feel again that love I have for him. When he's not my son, but the other, as now, I'm wary."Vivid realism brings this book - and its ghosts - right to you. It's a journey of connections and understanding that ventures into darkness, exposing old wrongs and finding friendships and caring strangers along the way.
In the Shadows Where the Boys Used to Play
Father Parnell was content with his life preaching in a small New England town. What started as a promising career in the church flatlined after he started hosting a paranormal podcast. Close friends in the church warned the priest that the side-gig guaranteed he would never get another assignment beyond small-town preacher.His friends were wrong.In the remote Romanian wilderness, a child's death at an orphanage sets in motion a chain of events that defy understanding. When church officials contact Parnell, he assumes it is to shut down his podcast. Instead, they send him overseas to the Romanian orphanage. Arriving with no explanation of why he was sent or what his mission is, Parnell looks for answers from those working at the orphanage. But from the moment the Parnell arrives, the headmaster makes it clear that the priest is not welcome. Alone in a foreign land with no answers, Parnell finally finds an ally in Sister Camelia, the orphanage's caretaker. The nun makes one thing clear: the boys need his help. Except the priest soon learns he may need help of his own. For this is no ordinary orphanage, and nothing is as it seems. The strange happenings in the school will test Parnell's faith and sanity as he battles to save the students from a terrifying evil that has made the orphanage its home.
Night Side of the River
A captivating collection of ghost stories from "one of the most gifted writers working today" (New York Times), Night Side of the River is as ingeniously provocative as it is downright spooky. In this delightfully chilling collection, the iconic Jeanette Winterson turns her fearless gaze to the realm of ghosts, interspersing her own encounters with the supernatural alongside hair-raising fictions. Lifting the veil between the living and the dead, Winterson spirits us away to a haunted estate that ensnares a nomadic young couple in its own dark past, a staged immersive ghost tour gone awry, a West Village s矇ance that threatens the bounds between AI and reality, and a vacation home in the metaverse where a widow visits an improved version of her deceased husband. Gloriously gothic and unnervingly contemporary, Winterson examines grief, revenge, and the myriad ways in which technology can disrupt the boundary between life and death.
The Quicks, The Deads, and Me
Mazie's a serial killer. She's been one for a while. She knows that, of course, and does an excellent job of hiding it.Then, there's Sk'doo. Something less than a ghost, it's doing its thing, zooming around its cemetery, listening to Deads. Its routine changes when a body is placed in a nearby pond. In learning how it happened, Sk'doo discovers its Quick friend, Kaz, is in danger.Who's Kaz? She's lonely, afraid, and confused. She's ghosting her way through life, preferring the peace of a cemetery to the pain of living. At least until Sk'doo causes her to meet Mazie who brings light and excitement.Mazie is manipulative, opinionated, and cunning. She decides to "educate" Kaz, taking delight in creating a series of uncomfortable situations for her more-than-willing victim. Kaz begins to blossom and falls hard for her new friend.All the same, Sk'doo must warn Kaz of the danger Mazie brings. The problem is how, when Kaz has no idea Sk'doo exists.
Game of the Dead
Most ghosts seek revenge.This one wants to fulfill the dream stolen from her-but she needs Vivien's help.Vivien and family have moved to Texas where her father is stationed at Ft. Hood. While hiking, she stumbles over a grave marker for a girl her own age named Florence Macartan, who died in 1910. An old newspaper article reports that Florence died while competing in a chess tournament. The men she competed against were angry, especially when it seemed she might win-and she died under suspicious circumstances before she could triumph. Given her past adventures, Vivien is unsurprised when Florence's ghost needs her help to play one final game. But Vivien knows from experience that interfering with the denizens of the afterlife is always dangerous...and sometimes deadly.
The Uncanny House
Old Mr Barker was a curmudgeon who underfed his dogs to make them vicious and kept his low-paid staff loyal with promises of legacies that never materialised. Following his death, his home is sold at auction for an absurdly cheap price to Peggy and Percy Dacre. But when the young couple move into their new home with their four children, Peggy soon discovers that The Beeches-commonly referred to as 'Hell Corner' by the locals-is already occupied. This new edition of The Uncanny House, the first since its original publication in 1927, includes a twenty-page biographical essay by Gina R. Collia: 'Mary L. Pendered: Author, Suffragist, Pacifist, and Thoroughly Good Woman'.
In Deep & Shallow Water
Every individual, whether humble or powerful, shapes the world into which they are born. Imagine stepping into a bygone era with no chance of return, where a single variable alters the future forever. In this tale, ghosts are not mere spectres but real people existing in the same space at different times, or perhaps guardians of time itself. The allure of unlocking the secrets of time travel is irresistible. But can a woman, especially one who is dead, be trusted with such profound mysteries?
Annie Mary and the Witch of Madelia, Minnesota
It is the 1880s when a farmer living near Madelia, Minnesota, makes a desperate deal with the devil through Nita, a witch who wants his nine-year-old daughter, Annie Mary, to sacrifice to the devil for black magic powers. When the farmer refuses and attempts to escape with Annie Mary, a chain of events ensues that ends in tragedy. Over a hundred years later, Nita is making her presence known in ways that terrify the town, especially a few of its younger residents that include a high school athlete and his friends. Meanwhile, Suzy is hosting a slumber party with five other girls when they decide to turn off the light and say, "Annie Mary" six times. When the witch appears and tells them three people must die because they disturbed her sleep, she begins her rampage. Now there is only one person who can save all of them from a dark fate. In this horror fairy tale, teenagers and others battle an evil witch who has returned from the past to wreak havoc on a Minnesota town.
The Coat Check Girl
Sometimes, it's in confronting the shadows that we find the brightest light.Embark on a touching journey with Josie Gray as she navigates the turbulent waters of loss, love, and the supernatural. After bidding farewell to her cherished grandmother, Josie finds herself adrift in a sea of grief, compounded by the complexities of an ambiguous romantic entanglement and the return of her unsettling "gift"-the ability to sense and communicate with spirits. A presence haunts the restaurant where she works, dredging up long-buried memories from her childhood.But amidst the shadows, a luminous figure emerges-the restaurant's new coat check girl. Mia is a beacon of understanding and solidarity, offering solace in shared experiences and a determination to unravel the mystery shrouding the restless spirit. Bolstered by a vibrant ensemble of characters, from restaurant comrades to familiar faces in the neighborhood, Mia keeps Josie afloat during one of the most difficult seasons of her life, helping her to embrace her unique talents and confront the ghostly enigma looming over them.Set against the backdrop of the bustling restaurant scenes of New York City and New Orleans, The Coat Check Girl is a compelling tale weaving together threads of sorrow, redemption, and the enduring power of connection. Join Josie as she discovers that sometimes, it's in confronting the shadows that we find the brightest light.
The Corner of Her Eye, Book One
"IMPRESSIVE DEBUT. FUNNY, EERIE AND FASCINATING." - Kaaron Warren, author of The Underhistory"A FRESH NEW VOICE IN THE HORROR GENRE. ONE TO LOOK OUT FOR." - Shani Struthers, bestselling author of the Psychic Surveys series"JJ CARPENTER INTERTWINES A HAUNTING CHARM WITH A DELIGHTFUL DOSE OF HUMOUR." - M.L. Rayner, author of Echoes of Home "I didn't expect to die today..."Everyone dies. But what happens if you're not ready when it's your turn?The first time Charlie White nearly died, there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Her life didn't flash before her eyes. There were no pearly gates. As the sufferer of a rare medical condition, she has lost count of the number of times she's faced death.Traumatised and afraid, she upends her high-flyer Sydney lifestyle and escapes to the relative isolation and safety of rural New South Wales, Australia. But as strange occurrences start up in her 1920s cottage, she realises she's not as alone as she'd hoped.The spirits are restless and not everything is as it seems. Charlie's life is not the only thing hanging in the balance. Her beliefs, her sanity, her very connection to reality, are under threat. She soon realises purgatory is all too real, and she's not its only resident.
Shadow Life
"No guarantees in life. No guarantees in death."Ferris Goodman is just a regular guy with more than his share of problems-boss issues, family issues, girlfriend issues. Lately, things have been looking up for Ferris. The boss seems to have taken notice of his work, and in a good way. He's mending fences with his siblings. And he's met a girl. Yes, sir, things are finally looking up for Ferris.Too bad about that whole "being dead" thing.Maybe "not quite dead" is more accurate. With one foot in the Living Realm and one foot in the Shadowland, Ferris and the other Guides help their clients choose where they want to spend the afterlife. Is the Ghost Life for you? Easy peasy. Paradise? Got you covered. Not ready to move on? Are you sure? Because Life can be a trickster, full of surprises, not all of them good.Speaking of surprises, Ferris is barreling headlong toward a very nasty one. During his time as a Guide, he's seen some stuff-grisly crime scenes, calamitous accidents, and run-ins with supernatural beings of every stripe. He's not the squeamish type. But nothing in his past could prepare Ferris for what awaits him. High-stakes situations are common for a Guide. This time, though, things could go horribly wrong.And the price for a blunder is catastrophic when you're already halfway dead.SHADOW LIFE is set in a world where ghosts are real, Heaven and Hell may be myths, and Death is just another guy at the office.
The Corner of Her Eye
THE MUCH ANTICIPATED SEQUEL TO THE KEEPER IN THE CORNER OF HER EYE SERIES."If you fail...much worse things will happen...much worse things, will come for you."Charlie White thought this was the end. She thought once she accepted her fate as a Keeper of Purgatory, her story would conclude. But she's just scratched the surface; this is only the beginning.As she grapples with an ever-expanding new world beyond the grave, she begins to draw imbalanced, disturbed and helpless spirits to herself in greater and greater numbers. How deep must she venture through the layers of purgatory? And who else - or rather what else - lurks in the shadows of limbo?It's not just Charlie whose sanity, life and reality are under threat any more. But just how much rests on her shoulders? And will she figure out how to fulfill her duty before she runs out of time?
Dinner With The Dead
Welcome to Dinner with the Dead, hold on to your head. Dress to distress. Champagne or moonshine, to your liking. Cheers, let's celebrate the years!Thus begins a night to remember at the Infinite Inn. The story of a most unusual dinner party is told by the Infinite Inn's owner, a woman with a thirst for knowledge, a hunger for connection, a dark sense of humour, and a penchant for a two-for-one special: the double entendre. Invitees to the party "ghost list" are living and dead, fictional and nonfictional. Painter Stefani Pagliaro talks charcoal with Vincent Van Gogh. Murray Silverstone, a recreational sailor, swaps adventure stories with Alexander the Great.From Ancient Egypt to Sherwood Forest to the backseat of a Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, Dinner with the Dead takes readers through a genre-defying investigation of history, creativity, and beyond mortality. Ultimately showcasing the vital interdependence of the everlasting human experience.
Dinner With The Dead
Welcome to Dinner with the Dead, hold on to your head. Dress to distress. Champagne or moonshine, to your liking. Cheers, let's celebrate the years!Thus begins a night to remember at the Infinite Inn. The story of a most unusual dinner party is told by the Infinite Inn's owner, a woman with a thirst for knowledge, a hunger for connection, a dark sense of humour, and a penchant for a two-for-one special: the double entendre. Invitees to the party "ghost list" are living and dead, fictional and nonfictional. Painter Stefani Pagliaro talks charcoal with Vincent Van Gogh. Murray Silverstone, a recreational sailor, swaps adventure stories with Alexander the Great.From Ancient Egypt to Sherwood Forest to the backseat of a Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, Dinner with the Dead takes readers through a genre-defying investigation of history, creativity, and beyond mortality. Ultimately showcasing the vital interdependence of the everlasting human experience.
Something Dead
Seven guests spend a weekend tucked away at a secluded mansion in the Canadian Rockies as part of a psychological study. Sophia is excited to have her best friend, Eve, join as her plus one.The study will observe the effects of stress and fear on cognition in a controlled environment. Not only do the participants get to spend a weekend at a beautiful mansion surrounded by lush forest, but there is also the promise of an enticing cash prize. All that participants must do is ignore the increasingly eerie atmosphere as they explore the turn-of-the-century manor and complete their given tasksUnbeknownst to the participants, the mansion has a dark history. Tragedy and Death have been constant residents of Mortoak Estates. It's a bloody history that participants are now entwined in, whether they like it or not. Sophia immediately feels that something is wrong... or is it? The creepy messages and feeling of being watched could be part of the whole experiment.Instead of a weekend filled with luxury and exploration, it becomes clear that the only objective will be to survive. Sophia is forced to take charge and overcome her fears if she wants to get out alive.
Glimpses
Stories of ghosts, of lovers, of adventurers, of beings beyond this world...meeting on village streets, at railway stations, over coffee, in a glimpse in the corner of your eye. Greg Metcalf presents stories that challenge, delight, make one ponder, and stick in the mind after you have done reading.
Ubo
Daniel is trapped in Ubo. He has no idea how long he has been imprisoned there by the roaches. Every resident has a similar memory of the journey to Ubo: a dream of dry, chitinous wings crossing the moon, the gigantic insects dropping swiftly over the houses of the neighborhood, passing through walls and windows as if by magic, or science. The creatures, like a deck of baroquely ornamented cards, fanning themselves from one hidden world into the next. And now each day they force Daniel to play a different figure from humanity's violent history, from a frenzied Jack the Ripper to a stumbling and confused Stalin to a self-proclaimed god executing survivors atop the ruins of the world. The scenarios mutate day after day in this camp somewhere beyond the rules of time. As skies burn and prisoners go mad, identities dissolve as the experiments evolve, and no one can foretell their mysterious end.
Night Clock
And still the Night Clock ticks... Phil Trevena's patients are dying and he needs answers. One of the disturbed men in his care tells him that he needs to find Daniel, that Daniel will be able to explain what is happening. But who is Daniel? Daniel was lost once, broken by the same force that has turned its hatred on Trevena. His destiny is greater than he could ever imagine. Drawn together, Trevena and Daniel embark on an extraordinary journey of discovery, encountering The Firmament Surgeons in the Dark Time-the flux above our reality. Whoever controls Dark Time controls the minds of humanity. The Firmament Surgeons, aware of the approach of limitless hostility and darkness, are gathered to bring an end to the war with the Autoscopes, before they tear our reality apart. Paul Meloy's extraordinarily rich debut novel introduces us to a world just beyond our own, shattering our preconceptions about creativity and mental illness, presenting us with a novel like no other.
Tides of Darkness
Among the ashes some cinders still burn.After the fire of Raven's Valley consumed their community-and the lives of their neighbors-fourteen-year-old Zelda and her uncle Mark are determined to rebuild within Greywood Bay. It's a place of serene beauty and rich history, a bucolic town they want to call home.If only the ghosts would leave her alone.Haunted by the spectral echoes of the dead, Zelda must fight for her sanity while navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. And her uncle Mark must battle his own demons, both inside out. Alone, they will crumble. Together, they might just have a chance.Because something sinister is rising off the foggy shores of the Lost Coast: an entity beyond time itself, one who has long had her eyes on these lands. Her whispers won't be silenced. Her shadows can't be ignored. And her debts will never be forgiven.For beneath its surface Greywood Bay is built on borrowed fortunes and grim pacts. And soon retribution will wash over the town with Tides of Darkness.
Haunted Scotland
Scotland is the perfect location for supernatural story telling. All those lonely hillsides, stone circles, ancient buildings and fog are ripe for stories to be creeping about in.Then there's all the fighting. A country that's been at war with either somebody else or with itself for most of its existence can't help but be filled with stories of love and loss, heroism and betrayal.And when it's raining and dreich, what better than to sit by a fire with a stiff drink and tell some stories?These ones are mine to tell, ranging from the borders to the highlands, the central belt to the far islands, and covering the depth and range of Scottish history. In THE BROTHERHOOD The Midnight Eye, Derek Adams, encounters a cult in Glasgow that has its roots all the way back in the Crusades and a quest for a holy relic.In THE NEST something stirs in Medieval times in the bowels of the construction of a new island castle.In THE BODY FROM THE MOSS a young Arthur Conan Doyle investigates a body brought out of an ancient peat bog that is still showing signs of life in Victorian Edinburgh.In COMING THROUGH THE RYE an old folk song reverberates with a musical group performing in a studio in a converted castle keep, with devastating results.In THE DUBH CASTLE BLACKTHORN something ancient and fey haunts the courtyard, and the laird, of a remote castle off the coast of Skye.These, and the other stories present, and cover a wide gamut of my weird storytelling interests.Pull up a chair. The whisky is on me.
Dirty Spirits
"The author puts a great twist on the ghost story. Add a family with some strange rituals, some body horror, dark humor and you've got yourself a great read!" -Audrey's Vault of Horror Take the dark family dynamics of Netflix's THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, add some EVIL DEAD 2 level mayhem, then wrap it in LEAVING LAS VEGAS' unflinching portrayal of addiction, and you have the new offbeat occult/paranormal novel from the twisted mind of Sawney Hatton. SOME VOWS ARE FOREVER... They say you can't choose who you fall in love with, and Doug believed it. He didn't expect to fall in love with an addict. Once he did, he knew the relationship would be challenging. But there are some things you can never imagine happening, crazy stuff you can never prepare for no matter how hard you try. All Doug can do now is hang on and hope the love of his life isn't dragged back into hell by her ex-fianc矇 who can't move on. Because while Liam Fowlington may be dead... he's far from departed. "The tension is tight, the pacing is amazing, and I was kept on edge the entire time. The book is very reminiscent of Jordan Peele's GET OUT, but with more of the paranormal mixed in." -The Writing Werewolf
The House of A Broken Shadow
I never summoned up my courage to this level before. Never ever tried to confront an evil spirit or thought about it. Non than less, I never dreamed of anything demonic.My past was a little horrifying I would say. I can't forget it, even if I want to. I tried everything to erase it from my mind, but I failed as always. Those days still haunts me. And when I remember those days, my blood runs cold. Hello, my name is Isabella. And this is my story. A ghost story.
The Fatal Move
"I cannot endure these frequent fits of terror much longer."Written in Belfast and Bangor during the partition of Ireland, the six strange stories comprising Conall Cearnach's The Fatal Move are unusual documents of the time. "Cearnach" was the pseudonym of F. W. O'Connell, a peculiar Protestant divine, linguist and Irish language scholar, oddball essayist, and early national broadcaster. His sole fiction collection showcases a wide scope: the conte cruel, the ghost story, the locked-room mystery, and the science-fictional satire. What unifies the stories is O'Connell's playful, outward-looking perspective, inspired by his love of the diverse cultures and languages of the world and his home country in equal measure. A unique figure in Irish life, Cearnach's character is perhaps more present in these stories than the anxieties of the time in which they were written. For this volume, Reggie Chamberlain-King provides an extensive introduction examining O'Connell's life and works.
The Winslow Incident
As a mysterious affliction spreads, a sleepy small town descends into madness in this "strikingly original" thriller and Daphne du Maurier Award nominee (Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Extinction). Everything seems normal in Winslow, Washington, as the tourists arrive for summer fun--the carnival in Prospect Park, the ghost-town tour--and the locals retreat to Ruby Creek to cool off. The only thing that's unusual is the death of Pard Holloway's cattle after a brief, strange illness. But now the disease seems to be spreading to humans. One by one, individuals deteriorate into lunacy. Seventeen-year-old Hazel Winslow, however, is perfectly healthy. That leaves her to confront the crisis on her own while her father, the sheriff, heads into the woods to hunt a fearsome creature; her boyfriend grows delusional; and ghosts invade her grandmother's broken-down mansion. How can she reason with them when their minds aren't functioning? And what would be worse--succumbing to the sickness, or being the last sane person left? Inspired by true events and informed by historical accounts, this modern Gothic tale evokes the mass hysteria of the Salem witch trials and the terror of the events in Pont-Saint-Esprit, France, in 1951. "Plenty of thrills." --Kirkus Reviews
A Flowering Wound
"It was only in my dearly loved evenings that I still felt at home." - Joseph RothTwo of the stories in this collection by John Howard have their setting in a certain west London suburb-the calm prospect of its small houses and tree-lined roads is deceptive. And throughout this selection of stories, whether in outer London or hyperinflationary Berlin, Romania in the febrile 1930s, or the austerity Britain of recent years, we encounter people who live on the peripheries of their cities and societies-and at the edge of their own lives and illusions. They might think they know the rules, but it often turns out they do not, after all. Or perhaps the rules changed-silently, abruptly. In these stories past and present come together with wounding consequences for those caught out by the system-or its absence.
Green Tea
"The delight of hell is to do evil to man, and to hasten his eternal ruin." - SwedenborgPublished alongside "Carmilla" in the landmark collection In a Glass Darkly (1872), Le Fanu's "Green Tea" was first serialised in Charles Dickens' magazine All the Year Round in 1869. Since its first publication, Le Fanu's tale has lost none of its potency. "Green Tea" tells of the good natured Reverend Jennings, who writes late at night on arcane topics abetted by a steady supply of green tea. Is he insane or have these nocturnal activities opened an "interior sight" that affords a route of entry for an increasingly malignant simian companion? This 150th anniversary edition of "Green Tea", with illustrations by Alisdair Wood and an introduction by Matthew Holness, is the definitive celebration of Le Fanu's masterpiece of psychological terror and despair.
Finder’s Keeper’s
It is a widely-believed theory that the past, present and future are all, inexorably, linked together - and that, if certain conditions are allowed to prevail, we can look into past or future events as though they persist in the present day. Unfortunately, such knowledge often comes at a price which those who might seek it are unwilling to pay - and the brief glimpses obtained by often dubious methods are sufficient to warn of the consequences thereby. For most people this thirst for knowledge of other times than their own is confined to foraging the shelves of a library - or a visit to some seaside teller of fortunes who has a gift of predicting things yet to come. Concealed among these fairly innocuous pastimes, however, are the perils of encountering some spirit or entity whose existence transcends the boundaries of time - and who, if given the opportunity, will take advantage of the susceptible mind. This is a tale of just such an individual - whose own quest for knowledge leads him seriously awry. May it serve as a warning to anyone who follows.........
The Wraith of Raven's Wood
Ghosts can take many forms; the souls of the departed; reflections of past events - or those who just frustrate us by moving things around. There is, however, a fourth kind, defying all description - who delight in inflicting suffering and pain. For the most part, however, they do us little harm - inhabitants of a nether world from which they, rarely, venture forth. They exist, primarily, in tales told around the fireside on cold, Winter's evenings - when the rattle of a door latch or the creak of a floorboard bestows upon them a reality they seldom possess. Still, there are some who will swear to having seen the genuine thing - usually when susceptible to those kinds of delusions born of a drink, or two, at the local hostelry. That is not to say, of course, that all such tales are untrue - and the man, or woman, who simply brushes them aside may, one day, regret their blatant denials. Within the pages of this book you will find a cautionary tale of a man - who, through his own stubbornness, allows himself to be seduced into just such a trap. However, be warned before opening the cover and simply seeking a couple of hours of spooky entertainment. There are, without doubt, beings such as these just waiting for the moment when your guard is let down.......and your expression of absolute disbelief transforms into one of utter dread.........
Sweet Delicious Candy
A curated story collection featuring fifty terrifying and disturbing dark fiction drabbles.
The Jerry McNeal Series, a Paranormal Snapshot Collection Volume 5
The Jerry McNeal Series, a Paranormal Snapshot Collection Volume 5Marine Veteran Jerry McNeal was born with a psychic ability that allows him to know when something will happen before it happens. Jerry can also see and speak with spirits, making for some "lively" conversations.Join Jerry McNeal and his ghostly K-9 partner as they put their gifts to good use.Books in this three-book collection: Spirit of DeadwoodFor fans of The Jerry McNeal Series comes a full-length, standalone Jerry McNeal novel, with Jerry, Gunter and a cast of lively spirits who are sure to entertain.In a story within a story, disabled Marine veteran Tyler Jones, aka Jonesy, unknowingly rents an apartment in the same historic town. Hiding in the shadow of his former self, Jonesy soon finds himself pushed out of his comfort zone by Grandma Lilly, the lively spirit of a former Deadwood madam determined to help the man realize his worth and help him heal the heart of Juanita Stim, the widowed mother who rents him a room in her house overlooking the legendary city.A fun-filled ghostly adventure with a hint of romance, Spirit of Deadwood is for those who dare to believe in the unbelievable.Star TreatmentThis 14th installment of the Jerry McNeal Series has Jerry and Gunter heading to Texas.Along the way, Jerry finds himself dealing with unexpected visitors who challenge his patience and further test his psychic abilities.Among the visitors is the ghostly spirit of Texas Ranger, Clive Tisdale, who is not a fan of dogs, refuses to tell Jerry why he is there, and if his presence has anything to do with Texas Ranger Raymond Hale.Raymond Hale oversaw mob informant Antonio Maioriello until both men went missing years earlier and were presumed dead until recent weeks when Maioriello's image started showing up in tourist photos taken outside the Alamo.At first, this was presumed to be a camera malfunction, as no one recalled him being present at the time the photos were taken.Then Maioriello showed up in a photo with the niece of Bruno Deluca - the man Maioriello informed on before being placed in the witness relocation program, and Deluca used his influence to demand answers.Now, not only must Jerry locate the spirit who is causing the chaos, he must convince Bruno Deluca that Maioriello is truly dead.Will Jerry and Gunter get to the Alamo in time to defend it from another invasion?Will Tisdale change his stance about dogs?Find out in Star Treatment - book 14 of The Jerry McNeal Series.Merry MeFeeling guilty at not having made his engagement to April official over the Christmas holidays, Jerry seeks to join her and Max for their annual after-Christmas getaway to Frankenmuth, Michigan.Not only is he looking forward to visiting the quaint Bavarian town, but since the town is known to visitors as a Christmas town, he sees this as a way to recreate the holiday spirit and finally make a commitment to both April and her daughter.What Jerry doesn't expect is to be drawn into a bidding war at a local estate sale or play referee to two spirits who discover he can see them and demand he help settle their differences.Just when Jerry thinks he has things under control, the Ghost of Christmas Past makes his presence known in the merry little town, causing things to feel a tad less jolly.Will Jerry be able to restore the status quo in the beautiful Christmas town in time to ask April to be his bride before they return home? Or will his plan be thwarted by things beyond his control?
The Haunted Baronet
Haunted Baronet is a spellbinding tale of suspense and supernatural intrigue, blending elements of Gothic horror with atmospheric prose and unforgettable characters. Gripping from the first page to the last, this chilling masterpiece will keep readers on the edge of their seats, daring them to uncover the secrets that lie within the haunted halls of Ashbourne Manor. The story revolves around a tantalizing mystery surrounding the cursed baronetcy, enticing readers to uncover its secrets alongside the protagonist. With twists and turns aplenty, "Haunted Baronet" keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to discover what lurks in the shadows. Beyond its supernatural elements, the book delves into themes of fate, redemption, and the consequences of past actions, offering readers food for thought long after they've finished reading.Despite being written over a century ago, the story is still effective at creating a creepy atmosphere and building suspense.
