13) “The Frontier Guards” by H. Russell Wakefield Plot: While playing golf, James Brinton asks his old friend William Lander about a charming little cottage they pass by. Lander concedes that it’s charming on the outside, but it’s haunted by whole pack of ghosts who are lethal to those who rent it. Over dinner, LanderContinue reading “Review of “The Frontier Guards” by H. Russell Wakefield Halloween Countdown”
Category Archives: Halloween Countdown
Review of “The Dream-Gown of the Japanese Ambassador” by Brander Matthews Halloween Countdown
12) “The Dream-Gown of the Japanese Ambassador” by Brander Matthews Plot: World traveler Cosmo Waynflete has just returned to New York, having amassed a collection of curiosities from nearly every corner of the globe. Exhausted, he dons the elaborately embroidered silk robe of the title—one he bought “in a little curiosity-shop in Nuremberg”—and stares intoContinue reading “Review of “The Dream-Gown of the Japanese Ambassador” by Brander Matthews Halloween Countdown”
Review of “His Unquiet Ghost” by Mary Noailles Murfree
11) “His Unquiet Ghost” by Mary Noailles Murfee Plot: A group of young men is hauling some, um, homemade brew packed in a “coffin-box” late at night when they happen across a party of “revenue-raiders.” The “rev-enuers” casually ask them what they’re hauling. “What we-uns mus’ all be one day, stranger—a corpus.” They then nameContinue reading “Review of “His Unquiet Ghost” by Mary Noailles Murfree”
Review of “The Night Call” by Henry van Dyke Halloween Countdown
10) “The Night Call” by Henry van Dyke Plot: Doctor Leroy Carmichael has recently established his practice in New Jersey. The important people of town don’t quite take him seriously. One night, he receives a summons to attend a visiting “Baroness de Mortemer.” The Baron himself drives him to a house in obvious disrepair inContinue reading “Review of “The Night Call” by Henry van Dyke Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Brickett Bottom” by Amyas Northcote Halloween Countdown
Plot: Reverend Arthur Maydew takes a well-deserved vacation of sorts by swapping parishes with an elderly Mr. Roberts. His two daughters, Alice and Maggie, go with him. Both girls are social and attractive. They like going for strolls in the area. On one of their walks, Alice comes upon an old-fashioned brick house with aContinue reading “Review of “Brickett Bottom” by Amyas Northcote Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Three Spanish Ladies” by Walter E. Marconette Halloween Countdown
8) “Three Spanish Ladies” by Walter E. Marconette Plot: Finding himself at the Pearly Gates, a loyalist Spanish soldier, deceased during the Spanish Civil War, * explains how he left the land of the living in the presence of the three women he loved. Hey, being with one woman is bad enough, but three? TheContinue reading “Review of “Three Spanish Ladies” by Walter E. Marconette Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Four-Fifteen Express” by Amelia B. Edwards Halloween Countdown
7) “The Four-Fifteen Express” by Amelia B. Edwards Plot: On his way to visit his friend Jonathan Jelf for Christmas, narrator William Langford is surprised to find a gentleman letting himself into what he expected to be his private rail car with a key. Langford declines to make a fuss because he recognizes the interloperContinue reading “Review of “The Four-Fifteen Express” by Amelia B. Edwards Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Dunwich Horror” by H. P. Lovecraft
6) “The Dunwich Horror” by H. P. Lovecraft Plot: Dunwich, Massachusetts, is a backwoods town settled by refugees from the Salem witch trials. Most people dislike it and avoid it now, though they couldn’t tell you why. Lavinia Whateley, the deformed and emotionally stunted daughter of Old Whateley, becomes pregnant and gives birth to WilburContinue reading “Review of “The Dunwich Horror” by H. P. Lovecraft”
Review of “The Double Admiral” by John Metcalfe Halloween Countdown
5) “The Double Admiral” by John Metcalfe Plot: Bishop John Charles receives a letter from an old friend, a retired admiral named Hood, inviting him up to spend a weekend at his seaside bungalow in Hampshire. John Charles hasn’t seen Hood for a while, but he’s heard rumors about him. He also knows he isContinue reading “Review of “The Double Admiral” by John Metcalfe Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Caterpillars” by E. F. Benson
4) “Caterpillars” by E. F. Benson The nameless narrator recounts how he sensed something was wrong the moment he set foot in the Villa Cascana—although it was a delightful house. When he saw letters on the table waiting for him, he thought perhaps there was some terrible news, but this was not so. The hostessContinue reading “Review of “Caterpillars” by E. F. Benson”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 