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Shadows at the Door - An Anthology
No matter where you are in the world, there is a story that everyone knows. In every town, every village, there is a house no one sets foot in; a specter in the woods that parents warn their children of; a local landmark whose history is stained with death. Shadows at the Door brings the whispered, hand-me-down horrors of thirteen such places together, to entertain and unsettle. The anthology will immerse you in the eerie locales of Durham, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Rugby, the Scottish Highlands, Toronto, Pittsburgh, New York, Rural Yorkshire, Lake Superior, Canterbury and Melbourne, so you can be scared all around the globe.
Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2016
13 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Mark Nixon
1 book10 followersMark Nixon is a writer who dwells by a graveyard in County Durham.
He travels life hopefully and yet finds inspiration in the ghastly, the ghoulish and the macabre. Mark originally began posting ghost stories online, an endeavour which lead to the foundation of Shadows at the Door Publishing. In 2016 Mark selected and co-edited Shadows at the Door: An Anthology. He has since written extensively in the audio drama format, appearing on such podcasts as The NoSleep Podcast, The Lift and his own Shadows at the Door: The Podcast. Through all this, Mark quickly established himself as a champion of ‘quiet horror’ and offers distinctive, drama driven narratives within pleasing terrors.
He writes at home in the dark, usually with a cup of Earl Grey to hand. He has two twin daughters, neither of whom are evil.
He travels life hopefully and yet finds inspiration in the ghastly, the ghoulish and the macabre. Mark originally began posting ghost stories online, an endeavour which lead to the foundation of Shadows at the Door Publishing. In 2016 Mark selected and co-edited Shadows at the Door: An Anthology. He has since written extensively in the audio drama format, appearing on such podcasts as The NoSleep Podcast, The Lift and his own Shadows at the Door: The Podcast. Through all this, Mark quickly established himself as a champion of ‘quiet horror’ and offers distinctive, drama driven narratives within pleasing terrors.
He writes at home in the dark, usually with a cup of Earl Grey to hand. He has two twin daughters, neither of whom are evil.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 6, 2018
This anthology is special. It's for horror fans that like a little extra. It's for horror fans that enjoy short stories, themed anthologies and beautiful, special editions to grace their bookshelves.
This is a hardcover book with an eye catching dust jacket...a strange, ghostly being in an eerie evening setting with those long, unsettling fingers.
The stories are selected by Mark Nixon who also writes a lovely introduction. I learned that Shadows at the Door is a website complete with a podcast and a plethora of talented contributors. Of which some are represented in this anthology!
Each story has a full page illustration by Barney Bodoano. All of the illustrations were absolutely perfect and suited each story with the appropriate scene depicted in shades of black and grey.
The pages are glossy giving the whole reading experience a very expensive, treasured feel.
I would have been really disappointed if the stories didn't come up against the book's design so I'm quite pleased that there are some real ringers in here!
I think this collection is actually quite attractive to people who love listening to podcasts like, LORE--that atmospheric, quiet horror that explores the sub genres of a gone by era told in a very urban-legend style or campfire tale.
Also fans of Valancourt Publishers, who buy the rights to out of print books and publish them for a new audience, will appreciate the timeless style (almost Victorian/Gothic) of these stories.
Of particular note were these stories:
"THE WATCHMAKER" by Helen Grant--captivating storytelling with delicious suspense.
"RUN" by Caitlin Marceau. A tug on my emotions with its real world subject matter but also so entertaining because of the ghosty bits.
"THE COMMISSION" by Mark Cassell--a dark story with a creepy edge to it. A sweet slow-build.
I recommend it for collectors who enjoy anthologies, have a special place on their shelves for awesome book design and enjoy stories with very little violence & gore but are heavy on mood and setting. Perfect for a cup of tea and a rainy day.
This is a hardcover book with an eye catching dust jacket...a strange, ghostly being in an eerie evening setting with those long, unsettling fingers.
The stories are selected by Mark Nixon who also writes a lovely introduction. I learned that Shadows at the Door is a website complete with a podcast and a plethora of talented contributors. Of which some are represented in this anthology!
Each story has a full page illustration by Barney Bodoano. All of the illustrations were absolutely perfect and suited each story with the appropriate scene depicted in shades of black and grey.
The pages are glossy giving the whole reading experience a very expensive, treasured feel.
I would have been really disappointed if the stories didn't come up against the book's design so I'm quite pleased that there are some real ringers in here!
I think this collection is actually quite attractive to people who love listening to podcasts like, LORE--that atmospheric, quiet horror that explores the sub genres of a gone by era told in a very urban-legend style or campfire tale.
Also fans of Valancourt Publishers, who buy the rights to out of print books and publish them for a new audience, will appreciate the timeless style (almost Victorian/Gothic) of these stories.
Of particular note were these stories:
"THE WATCHMAKER" by Helen Grant--captivating storytelling with delicious suspense.
"RUN" by Caitlin Marceau. A tug on my emotions with its real world subject matter but also so entertaining because of the ghosty bits.
"THE COMMISSION" by Mark Cassell--a dark story with a creepy edge to it. A sweet slow-build.
I recommend it for collectors who enjoy anthologies, have a special place on their shelves for awesome book design and enjoy stories with very little violence & gore but are heavy on mood and setting. Perfect for a cup of tea and a rainy day.
November 1, 2018
Wow, did I read a lot of horror short story collections and anthologies this month! I'm thrilled that all of them were so enjoyable, and this anthology is no exception. The stories in this book are sort of what I would refer to as quiet horror. A number of them are psychological and they kind of sneak up on you by the end. I love those kinds of stories and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
A Macabre Melody is a story of jealousy and revenge, with the sound of a penny whistle haunting the night air. The Gallow Glass is a sinister story of an endless traveler with a mission. Quem Infra Nos is a cautionary tale for the curious. The Watchmaker is a tale of greed and a cursed object that speaks to a man who is drawn to it. Run is a story that I hesitate to really say anything about because I don't want to spoil it. It's essentially about a young boy who is ruthlessly bullied by other children and his own family. Eventually, he is given a way to make the harassment stop. Deep is a slow burn of a story about a woman coming to terms with her fate. I really liked the writing in this one. And as one final mention A Little Light Gets In is a story about a woman who needs to know what happened the night her mother was murdered. Her means of finding the truth are very unconventional, to say the least.
This is a beautiful anthology with solid stories. It's a heavy volume, with glossy pages and gorgeous pen and ink drawings throughout. I really enjoyed this one, and recommend it to anyone who likes psychological horror.
A Macabre Melody is a story of jealousy and revenge, with the sound of a penny whistle haunting the night air. The Gallow Glass is a sinister story of an endless traveler with a mission. Quem Infra Nos is a cautionary tale for the curious. The Watchmaker is a tale of greed and a cursed object that speaks to a man who is drawn to it. Run is a story that I hesitate to really say anything about because I don't want to spoil it. It's essentially about a young boy who is ruthlessly bullied by other children and his own family. Eventually, he is given a way to make the harassment stop. Deep is a slow burn of a story about a woman coming to terms with her fate. I really liked the writing in this one. And as one final mention A Little Light Gets In is a story about a woman who needs to know what happened the night her mother was murdered. Her means of finding the truth are very unconventional, to say the least.
This is a beautiful anthology with solid stories. It's a heavy volume, with glossy pages and gorgeous pen and ink drawings throughout. I really enjoyed this one, and recommend it to anyone who likes psychological horror.
February 7, 2017
The website Shadows at the Door is a digital platform where horror writers are given the opportunity to publish their supernatural tales. Curator Mark Nixon himself a writer of ghost stories, took this concept to another level with the publication of an anthology featuring authors associated with the website. Launched just a few weeks back following Kickstarter crowd-funding, the book is a joy to hold and behold – a high-quality hardback printed on glossy paper, with beautifully atmospheric black and white illustrations by Barney Bodoano
But what about the collection itself? Shadows at the Door prefers its horrors subtle and favours stories with an old-fashioned touch. The thirteen tales in this anthology are mostly in the tradition of M.R. James and other purveyors of the “classic ghost story” – K.B. Goddard in particular (represented by A Macabre Melody) even manages to evoke the language beloved of late-Victorian authors. This is not to say that there are no grisly moments or sudden eruptions of violence (for instance in Mark Nixon’s own contribution Quem Infra Nos or in J.C. Michael’s Gytrash), but the emphasis is on atmospheric storytelling, where the horrors are implied rather than crudely spelt out. The types of haunting portrayed are varied – whilst some of the tales are clearly ghost stories (including one of my favourites – Caitlin Marceau’s moving Run) others touch upon dark fantasy (Christopher Long’s The Gallow Glass), fairytale (Deep by M. Regan) or folk horror (Pete Alex Harris’s Under Shiel Croft). Most of the stories have a strong sense of place. Indeed, the various settings range from English towns to the Scottish Highlands, New York and Melbourne and provide not just the backdrop to the action but, in some cases, a folk legend or tradition which serves as a germ of inspiration.
I’m looking forward to the soon-to-be-issued audiobook version with its specially commissioned soundtrack but, in the meantime, will be heading to the Shadows at the Door website to read some of the latest posts.
But what about the collection itself? Shadows at the Door prefers its horrors subtle and favours stories with an old-fashioned touch. The thirteen tales in this anthology are mostly in the tradition of M.R. James and other purveyors of the “classic ghost story” – K.B. Goddard in particular (represented by A Macabre Melody) even manages to evoke the language beloved of late-Victorian authors. This is not to say that there are no grisly moments or sudden eruptions of violence (for instance in Mark Nixon’s own contribution Quem Infra Nos or in J.C. Michael’s Gytrash), but the emphasis is on atmospheric storytelling, where the horrors are implied rather than crudely spelt out. The types of haunting portrayed are varied – whilst some of the tales are clearly ghost stories (including one of my favourites – Caitlin Marceau’s moving Run) others touch upon dark fantasy (Christopher Long’s The Gallow Glass), fairytale (Deep by M. Regan) or folk horror (Pete Alex Harris’s Under Shiel Croft). Most of the stories have a strong sense of place. Indeed, the various settings range from English towns to the Scottish Highlands, New York and Melbourne and provide not just the backdrop to the action but, in some cases, a folk legend or tradition which serves as a germ of inspiration.
I’m looking forward to the soon-to-be-issued audiobook version with its specially commissioned soundtrack but, in the meantime, will be heading to the Shadows at the Door website to read some of the latest posts.
February 7, 2017
"This anthology was always about taking things back a step. Stripping horror back down to the very basics and telling stories of ghosts and things that go bump in the night and stuff that just plain creeps you out.
It has achieved that and so much more. This is what horror writing is all about. This is where it all started. Stories like this that don’t need any elaborate back stories or fantastical mysteries or invented worlds to make them effective. They don’t need huge special effects and buckets full of CGI. They don’t need Hollywood budgets and publicity. They don’t need those buckets overflowing with blood and guts."
See here for the full review:
Shadows At The Door
It has achieved that and so much more. This is what horror writing is all about. This is where it all started. Stories like this that don’t need any elaborate back stories or fantastical mysteries or invented worlds to make them effective. They don’t need huge special effects and buckets full of CGI. They don’t need Hollywood budgets and publicity. They don’t need those buckets overflowing with blood and guts."
See here for the full review:
Shadows At The Door
June 4, 2019
Posted on Kendall Reviews - February 6, 2019
Shadows At The Door: An Anthology, Edited by Mark Nixon, Caitlin Marceau, and Kris Holt, first published by Shadows At The Door Publishing in 2016, is one of my favorite books that I read last year. The short stories within this dark novel include the works of Pete Alex Harris, K.B. Goddard, Christopher Long, Mark Nixon, Kris Holt, Andrea Janes, Helen Grant, Caitlin Marceau, M. Regan, Mark Cassell, Daniel Foytik, J.C. Michael, and Cameron Trost. As you dive into to this anthology, you will ‘immerse yourself in the eerie locales of Durham, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Rugby, the Scottish Highlands, Montreal, Pennsylvania, New York, Lake Superior, Rural Yorkshire, East Sussex and the darker corners of southern England.’
There are thirteen short stories in this anthology, and though I enjoyed them all and the reason this book is one of my favorite reads from last year, there are a few short stories that stood out to me the most: ‘Under Shiel Croft’ by Pete Alex Harris, ‘A Macabre Melody’ by K.B. Goddard, ‘The Gallow Glass’ by Christopher Long, Helen Grant’s ‘The Watchmaker’, and ‘The Commission’ by Mark Cassell.
‘Under Shiel Croft’, by Pete Alex Harris, is about a stubborn Auld man, as his thirteen-year-old daughter, Mhairi, calls him, an ancient book, and a mysterious creature who hides beneath their cabin.
K.B. Goddard’s ‘A Macabre Melody’ is set in Derbyshire, England during one of the villages annual festivities known as the wakes and dressing of the wells; a tribute to God for the life-giving waters. Ned, the main character in the story, is pining after the beautiful Ellen and when he learns that she has eyes for someone else, Ned does something that will haunt him forever.
‘The Gallow Glass’ written by Christopher Long, is narrated by a mysterious man, a people watcher really, who travels a lot in his line of work, on buses, sharing a taxi with a stranger, searching for what he needs. But on this day, however, he’s riding on a commuter train that makes an unexpected stop in Rugby, and he has his eyes set on a Mr. Goodweather, as he calls him.
Helen Grant’s ‘The Watchmaker’ is about a married couple, Justin and Marietta, who are having their cottage renovated, and when the construction workers come across a box beneath the floor boards, Justin becomes obsessed with what’s inside it.
‘The Commission’ by Mark Cassell is about a photographer who’s hired by an author to take photographs of Camber Castle, and when given specific instructions he must follow, the photographer agrees. I know this description is a bit vague, but I don’t want to spoil the story for you.
What I like about this anthology, is that each short story takes place in a different part of the world. I enjoyed researching some of the locations mentioned in the book, specifically Durham Cathedral and Camber Castle. After reading the ‘The Gallow Glass’ by Christopher Long, I was interested in learning the meaning behind the title, other than being the name of a location as mentioned in the story, does the meaning itself tie into one of the characters in some way? Though I don’t have a definitive answer to that question, I am curious to find out.
In closing, if my review or the synopsis of Shadows At The Door: An Anthology sparks your interest, then, by all means, take a bite, and delve into the creative mind of the authors – you may be surprised what you find lurking within.
Shadows At The Door: An Anthology, Edited by Mark Nixon, Caitlin Marceau, and Kris Holt, first published by Shadows At The Door Publishing in 2016, is one of my favorite books that I read last year. The short stories within this dark novel include the works of Pete Alex Harris, K.B. Goddard, Christopher Long, Mark Nixon, Kris Holt, Andrea Janes, Helen Grant, Caitlin Marceau, M. Regan, Mark Cassell, Daniel Foytik, J.C. Michael, and Cameron Trost. As you dive into to this anthology, you will ‘immerse yourself in the eerie locales of Durham, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Rugby, the Scottish Highlands, Montreal, Pennsylvania, New York, Lake Superior, Rural Yorkshire, East Sussex and the darker corners of southern England.’
There are thirteen short stories in this anthology, and though I enjoyed them all and the reason this book is one of my favorite reads from last year, there are a few short stories that stood out to me the most: ‘Under Shiel Croft’ by Pete Alex Harris, ‘A Macabre Melody’ by K.B. Goddard, ‘The Gallow Glass’ by Christopher Long, Helen Grant’s ‘The Watchmaker’, and ‘The Commission’ by Mark Cassell.
‘Under Shiel Croft’, by Pete Alex Harris, is about a stubborn Auld man, as his thirteen-year-old daughter, Mhairi, calls him, an ancient book, and a mysterious creature who hides beneath their cabin.
K.B. Goddard’s ‘A Macabre Melody’ is set in Derbyshire, England during one of the villages annual festivities known as the wakes and dressing of the wells; a tribute to God for the life-giving waters. Ned, the main character in the story, is pining after the beautiful Ellen and when he learns that she has eyes for someone else, Ned does something that will haunt him forever.
‘The Gallow Glass’ written by Christopher Long, is narrated by a mysterious man, a people watcher really, who travels a lot in his line of work, on buses, sharing a taxi with a stranger, searching for what he needs. But on this day, however, he’s riding on a commuter train that makes an unexpected stop in Rugby, and he has his eyes set on a Mr. Goodweather, as he calls him.
Helen Grant’s ‘The Watchmaker’ is about a married couple, Justin and Marietta, who are having their cottage renovated, and when the construction workers come across a box beneath the floor boards, Justin becomes obsessed with what’s inside it.
‘The Commission’ by Mark Cassell is about a photographer who’s hired by an author to take photographs of Camber Castle, and when given specific instructions he must follow, the photographer agrees. I know this description is a bit vague, but I don’t want to spoil the story for you.
What I like about this anthology, is that each short story takes place in a different part of the world. I enjoyed researching some of the locations mentioned in the book, specifically Durham Cathedral and Camber Castle. After reading the ‘The Gallow Glass’ by Christopher Long, I was interested in learning the meaning behind the title, other than being the name of a location as mentioned in the story, does the meaning itself tie into one of the characters in some way? Though I don’t have a definitive answer to that question, I am curious to find out.
In closing, if my review or the synopsis of Shadows At The Door: An Anthology sparks your interest, then, by all means, take a bite, and delve into the creative mind of the authors – you may be surprised what you find lurking within.
November 12, 2017
Really not a bad collection, and the illustrations add even more spooky atmosphere. They almost have a James McBryde feel, and editor Mark Nixon does mention M.R. James as an inspiration for the anthology.
"Under Shiel Croft" by Pete Alex Harris: I'd definitely shelf this under Weird fiction. Interesting bit of not-quite-folk-horror with a female protagonist. Also features this perfect nononoYES of a first sentence: Winter has loosened his grip on the earth, blossom has started to cluster and fall from the apple tree, and the thing under the cabin is killing birds again.
"A Macabre Melody" by K.B. Goddard: This felt a bit derivative, and I'm not a fan of hackneyed language supposed to evoke "ye (non-specified) olde times". But there's a sense of creeping horror if you're looking for one.
"The Gallow Glass" by Christopher Long: This story stands our for being something more like Dark Fantasy, but it's definitely not badly constructed.
"Quem Infa Nos" by Mark Nixon: Sometimes I get the feeling that stories by the editors of an anthology never get copyedited by anyone else (and it's difficult to judge your own work), and this story would really profit from some. And after so much backstory, the ending feels as if it's lacking something, too.
"Black Shuck" by Kris Holt: Again, nothing new, but nice atmosphere. Murder never pays etc.
"Nor Gloom of Night" by Andrea Janes: Nice bit of in-between-ness. Mainly about atmosphere. I enjoyed the botánicas and what feels like some (deliberate?) allusions to Fritz Leiber's Our Lady of Darkness.
"The Watchmaker" by Helen Grant: Maybe my favourite story in here. Helen (whom I met at an M.R. James conference some years ago) definitely knows how to write and how to build suspense. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.
"Run" by Caitlin Marceau: A really good story about bullying and ghosts. The ending feels a bit... inevitable, but situations like that give off that kind of atmosphere in real life too.
"Deep" by M. Regan: At first I disliked the language (which I thought was just trying to be "poetic"), but after I got used to it and the slow and dream-like and weirdly structured plot progressed a little, it all made sense. And I'm always thankful for a mention of local cryptids to investigate (in this case Pressie / Mishibizhiw).
"The Commission" by Mark Cassell: Again, not very original, but a ghost / summoning story with a nice bit of slowly-building atmosphere. I enjoyed imagining the creeping mist invading the village.
"A Little Light Gets In" by Daniel Foytik: Interesting story with an interesting take on ghosts (and technology) and an ending that feels a bit like some of the better stories from NoSleep (which isn't a bad thing at all - I've done a series of readings for their podcast and hugely enjoyed it).
"Gytrash" by J.C. Michael: Typical ghost story like they come with ruined castles (and tales of immured maidens) - until you get to the ending with its interesting parallels and unexpected final reveal. Nice! (Also: Gudrun can be a man's name???!)
"The Sorrowful Wife" by Cameron Trost: Probbly the least menacing ghost in the book. Somehow I expected more of this story, but then I don't have the protagonist's "problem".
"Under Shiel Croft" by Pete Alex Harris: I'd definitely shelf this under Weird fiction. Interesting bit of not-quite-folk-horror with a female protagonist. Also features this perfect nononoYES of a first sentence: Winter has loosened his grip on the earth, blossom has started to cluster and fall from the apple tree, and the thing under the cabin is killing birds again.
"A Macabre Melody" by K.B. Goddard: This felt a bit derivative, and I'm not a fan of hackneyed language supposed to evoke "ye (non-specified) olde times". But there's a sense of creeping horror if you're looking for one.
"The Gallow Glass" by Christopher Long: This story stands our for being something more like Dark Fantasy, but it's definitely not badly constructed.
"Quem Infa Nos" by Mark Nixon: Sometimes I get the feeling that stories by the editors of an anthology never get copyedited by anyone else (and it's difficult to judge your own work), and this story would really profit from some. And after so much backstory, the ending feels as if it's lacking something, too.
"Black Shuck" by Kris Holt: Again, nothing new, but nice atmosphere. Murder never pays etc.
"Nor Gloom of Night" by Andrea Janes: Nice bit of in-between-ness. Mainly about atmosphere. I enjoyed the botánicas and what feels like some (deliberate?) allusions to Fritz Leiber's Our Lady of Darkness.
"The Watchmaker" by Helen Grant: Maybe my favourite story in here. Helen (whom I met at an M.R. James conference some years ago) definitely knows how to write and how to build suspense. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.
"Run" by Caitlin Marceau: A really good story about bullying and ghosts. The ending feels a bit... inevitable, but situations like that give off that kind of atmosphere in real life too.
"Deep" by M. Regan: At first I disliked the language (which I thought was just trying to be "poetic"), but after I got used to it and the slow and dream-like and weirdly structured plot progressed a little, it all made sense. And I'm always thankful for a mention of local cryptids to investigate (in this case Pressie / Mishibizhiw).
"The Commission" by Mark Cassell: Again, not very original, but a ghost / summoning story with a nice bit of slowly-building atmosphere. I enjoyed imagining the creeping mist invading the village.
"A Little Light Gets In" by Daniel Foytik: Interesting story with an interesting take on ghosts (and technology) and an ending that feels a bit like some of the better stories from NoSleep (which isn't a bad thing at all - I've done a series of readings for their podcast and hugely enjoyed it).
"Gytrash" by J.C. Michael: Typical ghost story like they come with ruined castles (and tales of immured maidens) - until you get to the ending with its interesting parallels and unexpected final reveal. Nice! (Also: Gudrun can be a man's name???!)
"The Sorrowful Wife" by Cameron Trost: Probbly the least menacing ghost in the book. Somehow I expected more of this story, but then I don't have the protagonist's "problem".
October 9, 2021
First things first, this books is *heavy*. As in physically heavy, especially considering its not monumental 282 pages. High quality, heavy, glossy stock was used for the pages in this hardback volume, which really make the creepy, minimalist black and white pencil or ink style drawings pop. Similar art graces the thick, sturdy dust jacket.
For those unfamiliar, Shadows at the Door is also a horror fiction podcast, and a number of the authors in this volume will be familiar to regular listeners, including the delightful M. Regan ('Deep') who was the initial reason I ordered this anthology beyond the simple desire to help support Shadows at the Door more broadly.
The podcast and anthology curators are British, and self-admittedly lean more towards a British sensibility in the sort of horror/ghost-stories they favor (think 'The Watchman' or the works of M.R. James). I think they've done an excellent job here selecting stories that retain the feel of those classic British ghost stories but coloured by a modern sensibility (Nixon's 'Quem Infra Nos', Holt's 'Black Shuck', Janes 'Nor Gloom of Night'). Though I have it shelved as 'weird fiction', largely because in many cases we have unexplained endings, they feel more like the twist or unexplained endings of those ghost stories of yesteryear or The Twilight Zone than what either purists or the Vandermeers might consider 'The Weird'. Some, like Cameron Trost's 'The Sorrowful Wife' even have what one might consider a happy ending.
For those unfamiliar, Shadows at the Door is also a horror fiction podcast, and a number of the authors in this volume will be familiar to regular listeners, including the delightful M. Regan ('Deep') who was the initial reason I ordered this anthology beyond the simple desire to help support Shadows at the Door more broadly.
The podcast and anthology curators are British, and self-admittedly lean more towards a British sensibility in the sort of horror/ghost-stories they favor (think 'The Watchman' or the works of M.R. James). I think they've done an excellent job here selecting stories that retain the feel of those classic British ghost stories but coloured by a modern sensibility (Nixon's 'Quem Infra Nos', Holt's 'Black Shuck', Janes 'Nor Gloom of Night'). Though I have it shelved as 'weird fiction', largely because in many cases we have unexplained endings, they feel more like the twist or unexplained endings of those ghost stories of yesteryear or The Twilight Zone than what either purists or the Vandermeers might consider 'The Weird'. Some, like Cameron Trost's 'The Sorrowful Wife' even have what one might consider a happy ending.
January 30, 2019
I enjoyed this a fair bit, though it wasn't as scary as what I had hoped for going in.
The stories made for wonderful night time reading, as with any anthology, there's sure to be stories you enjoy more than others. With this one, I found that I enjoyed all the stories, there wasn't one I disliked, while I liked some more than others, I cant say there's a bad story in here.
Its beautifully illustrated, too. That only serves to add to the creepy atmosphere the book carries with it. Well worth the read for any horror fans. These stories strip horror back to the basics, back to ghosts and creepy things that keep you up at night.
Overall, I enjoyed this a great deal. While its not my favorite horror experience, its up there.
The stories made for wonderful night time reading, as with any anthology, there's sure to be stories you enjoy more than others. With this one, I found that I enjoyed all the stories, there wasn't one I disliked, while I liked some more than others, I cant say there's a bad story in here.
Its beautifully illustrated, too. That only serves to add to the creepy atmosphere the book carries with it. Well worth the read for any horror fans. These stories strip horror back to the basics, back to ghosts and creepy things that keep you up at night.
Overall, I enjoyed this a great deal. While its not my favorite horror experience, its up there.
November 21, 2017
It’s rare to find a horror anthology which flutters your guts with every story. It’s also rare to find such anthology also has a solid audiobook. The stories inside stick in your mind, the audiobook lingers in your eardrums, and your nerves, well those become lost in the words whether spoke or read. Great collection overall no matter how you indulge.
August 5, 2017
Brilliant book, I grabbed this in person from Mark at Sheffield Horror con. I certainly wasn't dissapointed. I can't wait to read more from the various authors. This is an anthology not to be missed.
November 26, 2023
I've been reading horror anthologies here and there for the past few years and had almost reached the point of thinking they just weren't for me and I would never find what I had in mind. These stories are varied, unsettling, memorable and overall a great Halloween-time read!
April 4, 2019
Overall a really wonderful collection of ghost stories set across the UK, the US, and Australia, from a wide variety of authors and ideas of what make ghosts and stories about them. In this collection, ghosts can be and are: sinister, benevolent, the past, the future, cities, people, family, legends, modern, ancient and so much more. My absolute favorite was "Nor Gloom of Night" by Andrea James, which captures an amazing atmosphere and dreamy quality that's hard to make work for fiction.
My only warning is that the last two stories are probably the worst, so if you're looking for the best quality the collection has to offer, they're best skipped. They can be summed up as "men trying to write female main characters and failing."
My only warning is that the last two stories are probably the worst, so if you're looking for the best quality the collection has to offer, they're best skipped. They can be summed up as "men trying to write female main characters and failing."
April 10, 2017
An independently-published collection of stories by 13 writers from various corners of Britain, Canada, and the US, with splendid black and white illustrations for each one.
The central theme of the book is classic supernatural horror (like the stories on the Shadows at the Door website) haunted with ghosts, cursed items, diabolical bargains and unquiet abominations. It's not so much blood on the walls as "things that go bump in the night", but some of those things bump pretty hard.
The central theme of the book is classic supernatural horror (like the stories on the Shadows at the Door website) haunted with ghosts, cursed items, diabolical bargains and unquiet abominations. It's not so much blood on the walls as "things that go bump in the night", but some of those things bump pretty hard.
March 23, 2018
Shadows at the Door is a collection of 13 horror tales from around the globe.
[While it in no way affects this review, I feel it necessary to note that I was a proud backer of the Kickstarter that brought this anthology to life.]
The Shadows at the Door anthology includes something for every horror fan, from the macabre, to the unsettling and the downright creepy.
As with most anthologies that feature a diverse range of tales, Shadows at the Door has a few stories that one person may love while another may be indifferent to. However, the beauty of the diverse architecture this array of stories builds is that everyone will be reading a different book. Sure, the words will be the same, but the experience will be vastly different.
My personal favourites included A Macabre Melody by K.B. Goddard, The Gallow Glass by Christopher Long, Quem Infra Nos by Mark Nixon, Black Shuck by Kris Holt, Nor Gloom of Night by Andrea Janes and A Little Light Gets In by Daniel Foytik.
While I could (with some difficulty, I might add) narrow down those six favourite, I found all of the stories in the Shadows at the Door anthology to be good in their own ways. Those six just appeal most to my preferred style of horror.
The illustrations in the Shadows at the Door anthology are dark and beautiful. If you visit the Shadows at the Door website, you will likely recognise the work of Barney Bodoano who has created illustrations for many of the online short stories. The gorgeous pictures are probably the most noticeable, but are just one of the things that tie the anthology in with its source website.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the Shadows at the Door anthology. It provides a wide variety of the ghoulish, the ghastly and the gruesome. While not every story appealed to me personally, I still appreciated what they brought to the whole. If you love horror stories and are looking for a collection of bite sized morsels, then I recommend sinking your teeth into the Shadows at the Door anthology.
[While it in no way affects this review, I feel it necessary to note that I was a proud backer of the Kickstarter that brought this anthology to life.]
The Shadows at the Door anthology includes something for every horror fan, from the macabre, to the unsettling and the downright creepy.
As with most anthologies that feature a diverse range of tales, Shadows at the Door has a few stories that one person may love while another may be indifferent to. However, the beauty of the diverse architecture this array of stories builds is that everyone will be reading a different book. Sure, the words will be the same, but the experience will be vastly different.
My personal favourites included A Macabre Melody by K.B. Goddard, The Gallow Glass by Christopher Long, Quem Infra Nos by Mark Nixon, Black Shuck by Kris Holt, Nor Gloom of Night by Andrea Janes and A Little Light Gets In by Daniel Foytik.
While I could (with some difficulty, I might add) narrow down those six favourite, I found all of the stories in the Shadows at the Door anthology to be good in their own ways. Those six just appeal most to my preferred style of horror.
The illustrations in the Shadows at the Door anthology are dark and beautiful. If you visit the Shadows at the Door website, you will likely recognise the work of Barney Bodoano who has created illustrations for many of the online short stories. The gorgeous pictures are probably the most noticeable, but are just one of the things that tie the anthology in with its source website.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the Shadows at the Door anthology. It provides a wide variety of the ghoulish, the ghastly and the gruesome. While not every story appealed to me personally, I still appreciated what they brought to the whole. If you love horror stories and are looking for a collection of bite sized morsels, then I recommend sinking your teeth into the Shadows at the Door anthology.
May 30, 2020
I found this book through the podcast and really enjoyed it! I’m a big fan of M.R. James and was hoping for similar vibes, and I wasn’t disappointed. My favorite stories were Under Shiel Croft and Quem Infra Nos.
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