Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "l-b-stimson"

A Pale Shade of Winter by L.B. Stimson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The beginning of a gothic saga as sins of the past encircle a family and horror lurks in the shadows that linger beneath the surface.

Lenore Kensington is pregnant, the father of her child lost to the Spanish-American War, unsure how to deal with her predicament. In her desperation, she turns to her father, who refuses to face the shame and dishonour that Lenore being with child will bring upon the family name. Sent away to a convent to give birth in secrecy, Lenore’s life is destined to be marred with grief and heartache.

Albert and Castine experience little love in their childhood home, forbidden to call the woman who raises them Mother, schooled away from other children. When a devastating fire claims their home, brother and sister escape. Presumed dead, they are unpursued, free to fend for themselves in a world they do not know. Albert vows to protect Castine from the brutality of the outside world, but his sacrifices for their survival may prove to be their undoing.

The powers of darkness circling, Albert is determined to solve the mysteries of their past, a quest that will lead to revelations none are prepared for and devastation that cannot be undone.

Brimming with gothic tension and imagery, L.B. Stimson’s first entry in ‘The Pale Shade of Winter Saga’ is a sweeping tale set between 1898 and 1915, the intertwined lives of a family torn apart buckling with guilt and shame and tragedy. In their loneliness and segregation from the world, Albert and Castine’s relationship is the centre of their existence, bordering on obsessive and unhealthy. Trickling throughout the novel is the influence of the supernatural, with many mysteries waiting to be explored in future novels in the series. A thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing gothic drama, evoking recollections of Mary Shelley and Daphne du Maurier for its atmosphere and themes.

‘A Pale Shade of Winter’ is a vivid depiction of the hardships experienced in lives void of love and nurturing, and the dangers to cross the path of the human soul. I eagerly await book two for the next chapter in this family’s legacy.



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Gaston Hall by L.B. Stimson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A haunting gothic tale of penance and retribution.

Fleeing from the horrors of war and the suffering of horrific assault, Elsie finds herself at Gaston Hall, a home for orphaned and abandoned children, dying in the basement despite the attempts of her rescuer to save her.

As the years go by, Elsie watches over the children of Gaston Hall, helping to sooth their woes and dry their tears where she can. Presided over by the formidable Della Rayburn, Gaston Hall is a harsh home in even harsher times.

But even from beyond the grave, justice is always calling. When even the dead won’t remain silent, there is only so far you can run from your sins. Once this particular song has ended, these may very well be the final days of Gaston Hall.

This novella is a delight for fans of gothic ghost stories. A sweeping tale set across several years, it builds a sense of creeping unease throughout. At its centre is its setting – the vast, haunting edifice of Gaston Hall itself; home to many abandoned and bereaved children, both living and dead; along with a host of other character archetypes that abound in gothic fiction, while each being their own developed characters. Reminiscent of films like ‘The Others’ and gothic novels like ‘Rebecca’, this is an enjoyable first entry in L.B. Stimson’s standalone anthology series ‘Tales from the Parlor Room’.

The ghostly group of children were a particular highlight for me, as solving the mystery of their deaths becomes an obsession for Elsie, building to a tragic, heart-wrenching revelation. I also very much liked the character of Della, who, despite her brittle hard exterior and shades of darkness, nevertheless remains a sympathetic character.

Atmospheric and ghostly, ‘Gaston Hall’ is a short and fast-paced read, perfect for dark nights at the fireside or around the campfire.

N.B.: L.B. Stimson’s second book in this anthology series, ‘The Farmhouse (at Peace and Plenty)’ is out now.



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The Farmhouse at Peace and Plenty by L.B. Stimson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A chilling gothic ghost story in the tradition of classic tales of hauntings.

In need of a new start, Jenny and Kyle take a summer lease on a secluded farmhouse in the countryside. Jenny wishes to write her new book, while her husband has committed to renovating the property ready for sale.

Jenny becomes fascinated with the history of the farmhouse, following several unsettling encounters with people in the nearby village. Still troubled by the problems they've fled, the couple decide to go against all advice and stay into the autumn and winter.

But Jenny is far from safe, finding herself succumbing to the grip of the Farmhouse. As fact and fiction become entwined and past and present blur, what haunts the Farmhouse now haunts her mind, threatening her grip on her very soul.

'The Farmhouse (at Peace and Plenty)' is the third of L.B. Stimson's books I've read and it just might be the best so far, this being my favourite type of ghost story - full of gothic atmosphere, characters isolated from the outside world, a mystery from the past which refuses to stay buried; all playing on the fears and anxieties of troubled characters, threatening their sanity as the horror builds, while maintaining the chill of restrained realism.

At the story's heart is a couple trying desperately to repair their marriage, one almost shattered by betrayal and mistrust. The writing so brilliantly evokes both a disquieting atmosphere and the emotional pain of the characters, blending seamlessly to create a haunting story.

The abandoned farmhouse stands unaffected by all the pain within. The locals fear it, issuing cryptic warnings. Whatever resides in the Farmhouse will feed on such pain - the loneliness, the heartbreak, the isolation, the conflict - manipulating it and pulling you to the brink of despair. Jenny's vulnerability is so well-developed throughout the story that you can feel yourself breaking with her as she clings desperately to her relationship and the connection she feels at the Farmhouse.

A fantastic second standalone entry in the 'Tales from the Parlour Room' anthology series. I cannot wait to read what comes next.



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The Haunting of Noyo Bay by L.B. Stimson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gothic ghost story layered with romance and suspense.

An unknown little boy plays in the cemetery in the seaside village of Keesbury. Yet no one appears to have ever seen him.

Charlotte Goolsby finds herself avoiding the cemetery and the presence of the little boy, unable to fully explain how unsettling she finds his presence. She confides her fears in Rees Pendleton, with whom an attraction is blooming.

As their bond deepens, Charlotte and Rees strive to solve the mystery of the little boy, uncovering the tragedy that hides beneath the town's surface.

'The Haunting of Noyo Bay' is the fourth of L.B. Stimson's books I've read and once again she delivers a tale packed with gothic imagery, suspense and buried secrets. In a story driven by the romance of two sweethearts on the cusp of adulthood, the ghostly, haunting scenes are juxtaposed with the sweet innocence of youth and first love.

Also blending elements of historical fiction and young adult fiction throughout, Stimson develops an authentic and character-driven drama that ensures the supernatural horror elements remain chillingly realistic, wrapped in the fraught emotion of several characters.

Well-plotted and fast-paced, the multiple plot threads are neatly resolved, ultimately culminating in a fantastically creepy final chapter. As always, I finished this book in eager anticipation of the next tale that L.B. delivers.

Both haunting and romantic, 'The Haunting of Noyo Bay' will have you questioning if the dead ever truly rest.



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As the Moon Fell Down by L.B. Stimson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A gothic ghost story exploring what lurks behind the lens.

Ellie Spaulding has found the perfect property to be the subject of her next photography project. She takes an opportunity to stay at the abandoned house, on agreement to some bizarre rules she thinks little of initially.

But after only a short time at the house, Ellie finds herself experiencing strange phenomena, while drawn to the locked door she has been forbidden to pass through. While she sleeps, someone or something watches her.

As Ellie comes to accept she may not be alone in the house, she is determined to uncover its secrets. Obsession flares and threatens to engulf her, something she may be unable to come back from.

'As the Moon Fell Down' is the fifth of L.B. Stimson’s books I’ve read and it’s my favourite so far. It has everything that I love about the best types of ghost stories – gothic atmosphere, haunting prose, mystery and paranormal activities; seeped in secrets with the implication of possible moral and/or legal crimes, featuring suspicious characters and a heroine at its heart with her own troubles and struggles, one with a strength and determination.

Ellie is a fantastic central character – a photographer who finds herself drawn to isolated locations with a history, which she weaves into a visual narrative for her exhibitions. In classic gothic style, the huge house itself almost takes on a character of its own, what lurks within it a threat Ellie’s sanity and ultimately her life.

The story begins as a slow burn, introducing us to Ellie and the house, drawing us in to the unsettling experiences that begin to haunt her the longer she remains confined within. As the creepy escalates to the dangerous, the pace ramps up and hurtles into the dramatic final chapters, the revelations unspooling and long years of silence unearthed.

Oozing atmosphere and foreboding, ‘As the Moon Fell Down’ is a superb gothic horror ghost story and a satisfying read for these autumnal nights.



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