Review: Haunted Tales: Ghostly Stories for the Darkest Nights By Adam Macqueen

Haunted Tales: Ghostly Stories for the Darkest Nights

By Adam Macqueen

Publisher: Swift Press

Genres: General Adult Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers, Novellas & Short Stories

Publication Date: 24/10/2024

Pages: 224

Synopsis from the Publisher

Adam Macqueen's first collection of ghost stories will be released in time for Halloween. First written and sent in place of Christmas cards to the author’s family over the past two decades, this collection proves that terror lurks in many different and unexpected places, and the dead take on infinite guises.

An unexpected and unwelcome voice on the world's first radio broadcast in 1908. A son who won't stop messaging his family on Facebook, although he's been dead for quite some time now. A frozen forest in a far north land where the sinister elf-kin lurk in the snow. A Scottish island where the locals make very sure their old folk don’t go hungry through the long winter. And an ordinary North London bedsit that would be perfect – if it weren't for the dreadful noises from the upstairs neighbours.

Haunted Tales is a must-read for fans of Hammer Horror, Neil Gaiman, the Uncanny podcast, Inside Number Nine, and of course, the master of the Christmas ghost story, M.R. James. This is a collection in the grand tradition of ghost stories – to be read by the fire in the depths of winter and perfectly timed for the spooky season and readers looking for their next trick or treat…

About the author

Adam Macqueen is the author of books including The Prime Minister's Ironing Board and The Lies of the Land: An Honest History of Political Deceit. The King of Sunlight, his biography of the soap manufacturer William Hesketh Lever, was named by The Economistas one of its books of the year. He has contributed to Private Eye since 1997, and wrote the bestselling history of the magazine which was published for its 50th anniversary in 2011. He has written two Tommy Wildeblood crime novels, published in 2020 and 2022.

Review

This book is a great collection of spooky tales from the same author. Although it is being released in time for Halloween, there is a common theme of Christmas throughout. This is due to the author writing these haunted tales to include with Christmas correspondence. 

I really enjoyed the fairy/fae themed stories, The Hawthorn Tree and Elf-kin. The Hawthorn Tree was set in modern times where a man disappears after chopping down the ancient tree in the back garden of their house. Elf-kin was set in more of a historical fairytale setting and had lots of spooky vibes. 

I also really loved Multiple Occupation. I lived in a house with a similar layout to the one in the story when I graduated from uni. I dealt with a noisy couple that lived above me that I felt were nocturnal, similar to the main character. This story is about ghosts, demons and never ending staircases. 

I recommend this book if you are into folk horror, there are definitely many references to all the great fantasy and horror authors. It's a short book, but the stories have depth. Perfect for those long winter nights.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift Press for allowing me to read this ARC. It is out now from all good bookstores. 

Rating: 4⭐️

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