Friends and Spectres
"If there is anything about which the present generation is bewilderingly well-informed it is the subject of spooks." - "Seraphita"Friends and Spectres is a companion volume to Ghosts of the Chit-Chat (2020), an anthology of ghost stories by authors who had been members of the Cambridge University Chit-Chat Club along with M. R. James. Here the associations with MRJ are less formal, but stronger and more enduring: for it is the bond of genuine friendship that ties these writers to him.The majority of pieces here were originally published under pseudonyms, and over half appeared first in amateur magazines or local newspapers. All deal with the supernatural, and several of the stories are themselves spectres-or more properly "revenants", only now re-emerging into the light after decades of oblivion. There are rediscoveries here of "lost" tales by Arthur Reed Ropes, E. G. Swain, and the enigmatic "B."
The Blue Bear
Ghosts? Monsters? Warlocks? All in a day's work.Dean Sherwood likes to think he leads a simple life. He enjoys shopping for vintage clothes, listening to jazz records, and flirting with the owner of his neighborhood coffee shop. He works as a personal assistant for his bad-tempered uncle, and he is pathologically incapable of leaving well enough alone. One morning, while running an errand, Dean stumbles across a beautiful woman trapped in the basement of a local club's lodge. That would be surprising enough, but this woman also has a tail.Dean's seen this kind of thing before, though. Like his uncle before him, he moonlights as a supernatural investigator, and without a second thought he frees the creature from her enraged-and hungry-captors. Despite his uncle's encouragement to drop the case, Dean's curiosity compels him to find out more. Where did the woman with the tail come from? Who summoned her into our world, and why? He tries to infiltrate the insular world of the club, but gets tangled up with a pair of self-taught wizards. They're hunting the creature themselves, and they aren't pleased to find Dean getting in the way.Time quickly runs short. The creature's beauty draws people like moths to a flame, and she kills without warning or explanation, guided by her own inexplicable logic. If Dean can't find a way to stop her, more deaths will surely follow. Then, just as he thinks he's found a solution, another monster appears. It's a huge, shapeless thing made of thorns and malice, out of control and commanding a power that no earthly force can match. Dean must juggle both threats, defend the innocent club members, and prevent the two wizards from inflaming the situation. If he fails, dozens of lives will be in danger. But even worse than that, he'll have to admit it all to his uncle!
The Last Act
The stage is set for a chilling performance...Nora Sinclair has always felt at home on the dance floor, but when she lands the lead role in a major production of Chicago at Boston's legendary-and haunted-Majestic Theatre, she quickly realizes she's out of her depth. Acting is new, but that's not the only thing unsettling her. The Majestic holds secrets much darker than any role she's ever taken on.As rehearsals begin, strange occurrences plague the cast-a whisper in the wings, a shadow where there shouldn't be one, and the unmistakable scent of roses hanging in the air. At first, Nora chalks it up to nerves, but when she discovers a hidden tin filled with old letters, she uncovers a story that has been long hidden.Drawn into the lives hinted at in the letters, Nora must piece together a mystery that's been buried over a century. As the lines between the past and present blur, she'll need to trust her instincts-and the surrounding spirits-to uncover the truth and find her place on the stage.A tale of lost love, hidden secrets, and the timeless magic of the theater. Perfect for fans of paranormal mysteries, historical intrigue, and those who believe the past can still speak to us.
The Forgotten
"One thing I learnt early...don't meddle with anything that isn't human...that's never been human...trust me on that."The walls between Charlie White's real life and purgatory are thinning. The realm beyond is increasingly affecting not only her, but her closest companions. The danger deepens the more her two worlds collide.Charlie has been warned there is more to the Dream than she can comprehend in this life. She knew she was not alone in limbo, but she never dared to seek out the others. One of them, though, is about to find her. Dragging her further into the world beyond.As she fights not just for her life, but for the lives of her friends, Charlie is forced to question her deepest fears and desires. How long can she hold onto those she loves? What does it mean to be betrayed? And when does justice become malevolence?
The Harvest
"Hunter weaves a tale that has the "modern horror fairytale" feel of books like Coraline or IT, while weaving in mature topics that add weight to the narrative. His exploration of grief, found family, and the search for purpose create some truly hard-hitting moments. I was thoroughly rapt by this novel." -Carlos E. Rivera, author of The Local Truth, Blackout, and A Hole in the WorldSomething is coming for the children.Tim Waverly, a young teacher, escapes London's spiralling housing costs by becoming a live-in caretaker at an abandoned orphanage. But his arrival triggers a series of frightening events.An ancient evil has awakened. A new Harvest has begun.As Tim and those around him become engulfed in a dark nightmare, he is forced to confront his deepest fears in order to save countless innocent lives.The Harvest is a work of terrifying imagination from a new voice in horror. Both frightening and deeply moving, Alex Hunter's debut novel will linger long after you turn the final page.
The Ghastling
In 'Faun' by N.J. Carr矇, a woman living alone in a neighbourhood plagued by antisocial behaviour has a strange synergy with a creature she encounters in the woodlands by her house. Terrified, she begins to think the faun is sent to protect her somehow...'A Grave for a Dead Horse' by J.P. Relph, the allure of a swinging rope hung above a deep pit is tempting for a group of early teens with nothing much else to do. But the game goes horribly wrong for one member of the party. Another macabre children's game (they often are, aren't they?) leads these sadistic revellers to discover something far worse: Cheryl, the quiet friend, (because there's always one) is perhaps a little too quiet and a little too willing in this very creepy tale, 'Stacking Coffins' by Josh Hanson. Ava DeVries' story, 'Only Carrion', is a dark and brooding exploration of death and mortality. A woman receives visitations from birds after her miscarriage, and then, every time there is a death, a 'wake' of vultures begin to close in... In 'Tear-Sippers' by Vonnie Winslow Crist, professor Floella Greer, an ambitious academic and expert in lepidoptera - in particular the variety of Tear-Sipping moths. Determined to forge ahead with her research plans despite the interventions of the misogynistic Professor Bogdan, she does something rather unethical to get her way... We've all coveted, cherished something belonging to a beloved relation. But what if it was really a part of them? In this eerie tale, a young woman inherits much more than a simple object, in Isobel Leach's 'My Grandmother's Glass Eye'. It is summertime in a seaside town, the light shimmers and Billy loves Laurel. Everything is almost perfect, almost. But laurel has a strange and occasional habit of disappearing - just not in the way you might think in Fiona Cameron's story, 'Freaks'. On a miserable corner of the coastline, two old friends, Daniel and Bramble, meet to chat on a dilapidated bench overlooking the sea. But Bramble has the sensation he is being watched (pursued?) by a figure in a yellow raincoat, a figure sent to remind him of something he'd rather forget in Tom Preston's tale, 'Bramble'. In Timothy Fox's folk horror, 'Listening Wood', a young boy, raised by his father, haunted by the legend of his mother, keeps returning to the woods where she was found.
Ghost Stories
Eight frightening stories of interactions with the paranormal; a series of life experiences.From the time that I was very little, I have always been fascinated with the paranormal; perhaps it is because I have a very active imagination or, unlikely as it sounds, I have had a lifetime of unexplained activities.I have always been open to things that are, let's say, unexplained. Science tells us we need to question things when we can't explain. Unfortunately, there are two extremely polarizing viewpoints, when it comes to the "Paranormal." The word: "Paranormal," is itself, an example of one side; as frequent as it has been for people to experience these ghostly activities, and with all the eyewitness accounts, we still classify these events as "Not Normal" or something parallel to what we wish to believe as normal. In my book, I tell these stories as a witness to the paranormal and I leave it to you whether to believe or not. My hope is that you enjoy them for what they are...stories. These are of course, for your entertainment.
The Ghost Who Sought Redemption
Return to Marlow House in The Ghost Who Sought Redemption.Two newborns and a toddler under one roof, with another one on the way, can be challenging for any parent, but add an unwelcome spirit with the sketchiest of reputations, and you'll have the local mediums scrambling for a resolution before the toddler spills the tea.
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...
The Terror at Camp Lakeview
Rayna's parents thought sending her to Camp Lakeview would help her make friends and feel like a normal kid. But what was supposed to be a fun getaway quickly turns into a nightmare. Dragging her friends along seemed like a good idea-until they realize this is a trip they'll never forget, for all the wrong reasons. Camp Lakeview becomes something far more terrifying... Camp Horror. Will Rayna ever be the same again?If you're a fan of chilling mysteries and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this is the book you can't afford to miss. Get your copy now and discover the secrets of Camp Lakeview-if you dare!
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.
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...
The Toll House
***DON'T MISS THE SPECTACULAR NEW GHOST STORY FROM CARLY REAGON. HEAR HIM CALLING IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW*** Discover the spinetingling ghost story everyone is raving about: 'If you like a good ghost story put this chilling thriller to the very top of your reading list' Sarah Pearse author of THE SANATORIUM 'Will keep you up long after the witching hour' Rebecca Netley, author of THE WHISTLING 'A satisfyingly good old-fashioned ghost story' Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of PANDORA 'I hoovered this up in one go.' Natasha Pulley, author of THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET 'A book that feels like it's watching you . . . unsettling and gripping' Cari Thomas, author of THREADNEEDLE ________The past isn't always dead and buried. A house with history. That's how the estate agent described the old toll house on the edge of the town. For Kelda it's the perfect rural home for her young son Dylan after a difficult few years. But when Kelda finds a death mask concealed behind one of the walls, everything changes. Inexplicable things happen in the house, Kelda cannot shake the feeling of being watched and Dylan is plagued by nightmares, convinced he can see figures in his room. As Dylan's behaviour becomes increasingly challenging, Kelda seeks answers in the house's mysterious past. But she's running out of time. Because something has awoken. And now it won't rest .________'Beautifully written. Carly Reagon is one to watch.' C.J. Cooke, author of THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES 'Had me turning pages late into the night' Anita Frank, author of THE LOST ONES 'An edge-of-the-seat, nail-biting read. I loved it.' Kate Hamer, author of THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT
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.
Captain Dalgety Returns
World-renowned cartoonist Seth returns with three new ghost stories for 2024.After the death of his wife in childbirth, Captain Dalgety has grown distant from his estate and young daughter. But during his walk home one afternoon, a sudden thunderstorm causes a series of revelations, and the captain's life takes an unexpected turn.
The Amethyst Cross
World-renowned cartoonist Seth returns with three new ghost stories for 2024.When Margaret finds a cottage to rent in the moorlands for her visiting Aunt Dorothea, she pays no mind to its rumored dark history. But when Dorothea goes missing only days after her arrival, a haunting tale of greed and murder soon comes to light.
Podolo
World-renowned cartoonist Seth returns with three new ghost stories for 2024.When a group of tourists visits the deserted island of Podolo, one wants to rescue a feral cat they find there, and the others reluctantly agree. Unfortunately, the rescue proves more difficult than they expect--and they soon discover they're not alone on Podolo.
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.
Disturbing the Water
All alone in wild, remote places... obsessively pursuing their quarry in the fading light... is it any wonder so many anglers claim to have witnessed ghosts?In a change from the usual haunted houses and gothic go-to's, these original tales of tragedy, redemption and the unexpected feature a variety of watery realms, including a Highland river, an Irish lough, a North American wilderness, a Cornish seascape, long-lost carp lakes, and a Ukrainian water source with magical properties.But you don't have to be an angler to appreciate these tales of tragedy, redemption and the unexpected.There are echoes of real history thrown in for good measure, including the English Civil War, the Second World War and even a Victorian serial killer. So prepare for some chills at the water's edge... and beyond it.Praise for Disturbing the Water"Wry, crisp and compelling." - David Profumo, Country Life magazine"The Civil War....the Second World War...a Victorian serial killer...witches...everybody should check it out!" - Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook, The Rest is History podcast"Should you have steady nerves, this would be a great book to take night fishing with you!" - Dom Garnett, Angling Times"A testament to masterful storytelling." - Michelle Fisher, Haunted History Chronicles podcast"I actually read this book in one sitting - I just couldn't put it down." - Kirsty Lock, Bookstagram"One of the best ghost story collections I've read in a while...highly recommended." - Mark Yanes, bookseller, Pennsylvania USA""He knows how to tell a story and hold a reader in thrall, while his tales have variety and originality." - Keith Elliott, Classic Angling"What a unique read...a delightfully creepy, yet mindfully enthralling bundle of stories." - Chris Coppel, leading horror author
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.
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.
The Bear Pit Chronicles
Ghosts. They always have a story to tell and one no darker, or sexually transgressive than told here by P B Alastor in the Bear Pit chronicles. Ghostly apparitions send us on a journey back into the late Victorian era to traverse unknown occult realms and the Victorian Soho of Holywell and Wych Streets. The reader gains access to the past via 1970, when Lord Arthur Ashcroft, a leader of an occult group, and his wife Nina, a cult horror movie star, make incredible findings in a secret basement of their house. The discoveries pertain to an unheralded occultist and pornographer Adam Drake, and they trigger ghostly moments when the rock star Bryan Jonsen arrives at the house with his groupies and pet orangutang. The action hurtles back in time to Adam Drake's residency at Arthur's house and we journey with Drake as he delivers his illicit wares to London's underworld. Strange occurrences befall him there bringing him illumination as to his future mission in life. Conflict with Cornelius Parker, who leads his own denomination will be inevitable, as Parker and his female fanatics prepare for the final apocalyptic battles with the anti-Christ. Read and be intrigued!
The Bear Pit Chronicles
Ghosts. They always have a story to tell and one no darker, or sexually transgressive than told here by P B Alastor in the Bear Pit chronicles. Ghostly apparitions send us on a journey back into the late Victorian era to traverse unknown occult realms and the Victorian Soho of Holywell and Wych Streets. The reader gains access to the past via 1970, when Lord Arthur Ashcroft, a leader of an occult group, and his wife Nina, a cult horror movie star, make incredible findings in a secret basement of their house. The discoveries pertain to an unheralded occultist and pornographer Adam Drake, and they trigger ghostly moments when the rock star Bryan Jonsen arrives at the house with his groupies and pet orangutang. The action hurtles back in time to Adam Drake's residency at Arthur's house and we journey with Drake as he delivers his illicit wares to London's underworld. Strange occurrences befall him there bringing him illumination as to his future mission in life. Conflict with Cornelius Parker, who leads his own denomination will be inevitable, as Parker and his female fanatics prepare for the final apocalyptic battles with the anti-Christ. Read and be intrigued!
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.
Gone to See the River Man
Super fans. Groupies. Stalkers. These people will give anything for the idols they worship, be they rock stars, actor, or authors. Or even serial killers. Lori's obsession is with Edmund Cox, who was convicted of butchering more than twenty women. She will do anything to get close to him, so when he gives her a task, she accepts. She has no idea of the horror that awaits her. Edmund says she must go to his cabin in the woods and retrieve a key to deliver to a mysterious figure known only as The River Man. She brings along her sister, and the trip becomes a surreal nightmare, one that digs up Lori's personal demons, the ones she feels bonds her to Edmund. Soon she will learn The River Man is not quite fact or folklore, and definitely not human . . . at least not anymore.
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.
Full Brutal
Winner of the Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. Kim White is a very popular cheerleader. She's pretty, healthy, and comes from a well-off family. She has everything a girl of sixteen is supposed to want. And she's sick to death of it. In search of something to pull her out of her suicidal thoughts, she begrudgingly decides to lose her virginity, having heard it's a life-changing event. But Kim doesn't want to do it the same way her peers do. She seduces one of her teachers, hoping to ruin his life just for the fun of it. This starts Kim on a runaway train of sadism, and she makes every effort to destroy the lives of those around her. But soon simple backstabbing is not enough to keep her excited, and she nosedives into sabotage, violence, and even murder. When Kim finds out she's pregnant with her teacher's child, a new madness overtakes her, and she realizes there's only one thing that will satisfy her baby's hunger . . .
Along the River of Flesh
Having escaped from prison, serial killer Edmund Cox returns to his hometown of Killen. Entering the woods with his "darlings" in his pocket, he begins a new quest along the Hollow River, hoping to make good on one final deal with The River Man. What Edmund doesn't realize is he's not going alone. Keith Drakeson is one of the police detectives who hunted Cox the first time around, and he considers the killer's escape an insult to his legacy. Determined to capture the killer again, he follows a hunch that leads him to where Edmund grew up. Gary Chatmon is a private investigator looking for a missing girl named Jessica Hong, who he believes was one of Edmund Cox's victims. Jessica was writing a paper on the legend of The River Man before she disappeared. Gary and Keith decide to team up, but they soon encounter a strange girl. June Audrey is a teenage runaway with a backpack full of articles on Edmund Cox. She too has come to these woods in search of the killer. The three travelers head upriver, each carrying their own dark secrets as they pursue a man of pure evil, and the local legend some say is behind it all. Along the River of Flesh is the sequel to the international horror sensation Gone to See the River Man. Picking up where the first book left off, Triana's transgressive novel builds upon the terrifying world of The River Man, and the miserable souls who dare to find him.
The Forsaken House at Misty Vale
Celia Grey, a fifty-year-old, unmarried writer who has longed for a home of her own for decades, thinks all her prayers have been answered when she inherits her uncle's house. But Clew Lodge is a property with an uncanny reputation. It is a grim and daunting place, desolate and derelict, having been left to the forces of corruption since Uncle Jerrold abandoned it a decade prior to his death-because he 'could not stand the whispering'. This new edition of 'The Forsaken House at Misty Vale', the first since its original publication in 1932, includes a twenty-page biographical essay by Gina R. Collia: 'Mary L. Pendered: Author, Suffragist, Pacifist, and Thoroughly Good Woman'.
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.
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.
Hidden
Thirteen Years Ago, a young scientist by the name of Daray Horvac had come face-to-face with the sinister reckoning of his own reality. He witnessed the gruesome end of his supervisor at the hands of what he could only describe as the rotting corpse of an ethereal woman, looming above the darkness between the veil of our living reality and what awaits beyond. Thirteen years later, long after the mysterious disappearance of whatever abomination he had witnessed, Daray has achieved what no other scientist had ever accomplished before. No one within the small town of Wolfville knows how he did it, but Daray somehow managed to scientifically uncover undeniable and quantifiable evidence of the human soul. But no such discovery comes without ghastly consequences. Harrowing, disturbing, and outright terrifying, Hidden proves to be a ghost story for the ages, captivating the reader at the edge of their seat all the way through to its jaw-splitting conclusion.
