By Paula Limbaugh
Hauntings, edited by Ian Whates, is a wonderful collection of 15 short stories. With stories from Tanith Lee, Mark West, Paul Kane, Alison Littlewood on the cover of this beautifully curated book, you’re sure to get it! 15 great writers all in one book.
Mary O’Regan’s “The Cradle in the Corner” tells a haunting story about the loss of life. Mary was six weeks away from giving birth, and her husband, Alan, brought home a cradle from an antique shop. Mary was eager to redecorate his find for her upcoming baby, but she began to have nightmares and bad feelings about the cradle. At first Alan didn’t share Mary’s concerns, but as the due date approached, he too began to suspect something was amiss.
Paul Kane’s Presence is about letting go. Annette Griffith has been living in a fog since her husband Terry’s death. She tries to stay strong and get their lives back to normal for the sake of her daughter Hayley. One day while in Terry’s study she hears beeps coming from his computer and out of curiosity she decides to log onto his social networking page where she finds horrifying messages from Terry. Is this a cruel hoax or is there something more to life after death?
My favorite is “The Scariest Places in the World” by Mark Morris. After reading this story, I couldn’t get it out of my head for a long time. Sometimes, when problems in life are not solved before death, they follow you into the afterlife. Annette works from home and is often disturbed by uninvited guests. She is always ready to explode at anyone who interrupts her work. One day, a young man knocks on the door, and Annette, against her better judgment, lets him in. He just wants a quick look at his childhood home. Soon, Annette realizes her unusual lapse in judgment!
I could go on and on, but why don’t you check it out for yourself. All of these stories are worth reading, and all are memorable in some way! Available from Amazon, published by NewCon Press.
Order Hauntings right here.
grade:5/5
