Tag Archives: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women

Another One in from the Cold by Marion Arnott

December 17, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Marion Arnott, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women, Warskyebjenner

Image result for the mammoth book of ghost stories by women book cover

Title: Another One in from the Cold
Author: Marion Arnott
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, War
Dates read: 15th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: But the smiling boy in the stiff new uniform was a composition in shades of shadow; even the tartan trews and diced cap, which she knew to be bright colours, were grey and greyish and darker grey.

It doesn’t matter how many generations go by, it’s important to bring in loved ones from the cold. Particularly in this short story that focuses on those lost in the period of the World Wars.

This story is very true to its title – bringing in loved ones from the cold. It’s about returning lost ones from the World Wars to family. Even if its almost 100 years after they were lost. It’s about loved ones and the people that we have lost and making sure that they return to the fold, eventually.

I know next to nothing about my ancestors, so having a story that has psychics focusing on ancestors and general returning of the loved and lost made me feel a little nostalgic. And honestly lonely. After all, I have very few ties to ancestors and can’t imagine the strength of these connections. It helped to add to the sense of tragedy that this story left in me.

Another One in from the Cold is a reminder that it is important to return, even if it is generations after death. After all, family is still family.

<- Let Loose

My Moira ->

Image source: Goodreads

Let Loose by Mary Cholmondeley

December 15, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Horror, Mary Cholmondeley, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women, Vampiresskyebjenner

Title: Let Loose
Author: Mary Cholmondeley
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror, Vampires
Dates read: 14th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1902
5th sentence, 74th page: The moon in its various quarterings has always exerted a marked influence on what I may call the sub-dominant, namely, the poetic side of my nature.

He always wears unexpectedly high collars, but the reason behind his decision making all has to do with an open crypt. And a series of mistakes.

In the incredibly intense journey that The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women has so far taken me on, this is less terrifying. Not to say that it wasn’t still a little bit spine-tingling. But it just wasn’t as can’t sleep at night as many of the other stories.

I liked the interesting setup within this story – after all, it was a tale within a tale. I didn’t really like the guy who told either tale. After all, one married the sister, and the whole thing was just… icky feeling. But I did like the format of the story. And the writing style. I just didn’t love the actual storyline.

I’m pretty sure that this story was about vampires. Or at least, releasing the evil beings from the tomb. It’s a reminder to maybe just let the dead sleep and leave them in peace.

<- Return

Another One in from the Cold ->

Image source: Goodreads

Return by Yvonne Navarro

December 13, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Horror, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: Return
Author: Yvonne Navarro
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 13th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: My coach says I’m goo enough for the pros.

Mara has Returned.

Return deals with death a little bit differently from some of the other stories in the The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women collection. Death in this is treated as a way of finding peace and an ending to some pretty horrible things in the living world. It was seriously tragic, but I liked how death was a nice ending.

I love that throughout this story Mara says absolutely nothing. All of the drama and horribleness unfolds as she just… sits there. The moments that are revealed are spine-tingling and horrifying. And the fact that it all unfolds around a girl who just sits there and watches… it somehow made everything all that much better.

Outside of death and peace, this is all about facing up to the consequences of one’s actions. The fact that the consequences are horrible and twisted… well, it’s a good reminder that every action has consequences.

<- Freeze Out

Let Loose ->

Image source: Goodreads

Freeze Out by Nancy Holder

December 12, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Horror, Nancy Holder, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: Freeze Out
Author: Nancy Holder
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 12th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Cody found himself remembering walking into the Lazy Daisy Flower Shop on the night of the prom to pick up Tiffany’s corsage.

It’s their mother’s funeral and their father has dementia. But he might not be as clueless as he thought he was…

Freeze Out is filled with very many creepy twists and turns. It was hard to gain a grasp on who the bad guy and the culprit in this story was. And where the ghost aspect of the ghost story would com in. Every time I felt like I had a grasp on the story, something would change and I would be swept down another turn that I just wasn’t expecting.

The “bad guy” in this story really wasn’t who I expected. Rather, towards the end, when everything was revealed, and the darkness lifted from the family… I was kind of surprised and also content to finally turn that final page.

Freeze Out was very well written and a phenomenal short story. However, it was also difficult to read and experience. Difficult in the fact that it gave me the heebie jeebies right the way through. And, although I enjoyed this, it also left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

<- The Third Person

Return ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Third Person by Lisa Tuttle

December 11, 2020Book ReviewHorror, Lisa Tuttle, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: The Third Person
Author: Lisa Tuttle
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Dates read: 10th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “I have to meet Andrew at Ikea in thirty-five minutes, but that should be plenty of time for a coffee,” Rachel said, with a hug and kiss Imogen was not quick enough to avoid.

Imogen has always been the third person in her friends’ marriage. Now she’s the third person in an affair, but could things be far more sinister than even she realised?

I’m writing this review the morning after I read this story. And I can tell you, that of all the ghost stories that I’ve been reading recently, this is the one that made it really hard to sleep last night. After all, the final scene is of a knife and someone running in the help that they can defend themselves… it was seriously open-ended and made me stop to think about who has access to my house.

This whole story left a bitter taste in my mouth. From beginning to end. Not only because it features an affair, but all of those other little moments and hints throughout… I can’t imagine being a third person / wheel in someone else’s life, and this just made it all that much more… creepy. There were just way too many stalkerish vibes throughout this story.

All in all, this was seriously creepy and uncomfortable. But it’s also a bit of a reminder of some of the dangers and pitfalls of being a woman. Yup, sometimes it just seriously sucks…

<- Seeing Nancy

Freeze Out ->

Image source: Goodreads

Seeing Nancy by Nina Allan

December 8, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Horror, Nina Allan, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: Seeing Nancy
Author: Nina Allan
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 9th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He solved that particular problem by himself.

Things have started going down in their marriage, ever since they moved into the new house. And then this crime writer meets a young girl named Nancy and the past comes to the present.

I thought that this was going to be one of those stories that had a happy ending and wasn’t completely deranged and creepy at the end. Right up until that final moment, I even thought that my wish might come true. But I was so very, very wrong and there is a great, strong image imprinted onto my mind at the end of this story.

The entirety of this short story is written in first person, letting the weirdness unfold as you travel alongside the characters in this story. It was very well written and a very enjoyable journey. It just didn’t have a nice feeling at the end of all of the tragedy that was uncovered. And, honestly, there are soooo many unanswered questions, ones that I really don’t want to leave up to my imagination, because that takes me to weird places.

Not only was this story a bit disturbing and difficult to get through. Particularly as Roy’s story unfolded. There was so much more about the story that was tragic. But him being lost somehow was the worst thing…

<- Scairt

The Third Person ->

Image source: Goodreads

Scairt by Alison Littlewood

December 8, 2020Book ReviewAlison Littlewood, Ghosts, Horror, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: Scairt
Author: Alison Littlewood
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 7th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Away from the path the ground was covered in little mounds, old branches maybe, covered in moss and tight, star-shaped leaves.

She’s moved from her home to Scotland with her grandparents after tragedy struck. But will a walk in the woods lead to another tragedy?

Scairt started out a little bit creepy. And I had this horrible, uneasy feeling from the very beginning. But that slowly disappeared as the story unfolded. And eventually there was a really nice happy ending to the story. Not something that happens often in ghost stories. Or at least, not in my experience.

I love that the ghost in this story was actually protective. Maybe not what you would consider good… but it was most certainly protective. And it was this protective nature that lead to the happily ever after in this story.

Partnering a ghost story featuring children and tragedy with the beauty and eeriness of Scotland worked fantastically. I loved this whole setting and story. It was completely brilliant and a heck of a lot of fun.

<- The Fifth Bedroom

Seeing Nancy ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Fifth Bedroom by Alex Bell

December 6, 2020Book ReviewAlex Bell, Ghosts, Horror, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: The Fifth Bedroom
Author: Alex Bell
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 6th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: And when that happens, love – or what passes for love – dies too.

Chloe is bitter about the past and the accident that tore down her life. So she’s moved to her own home to lick her wounds in private. But the non-existent fifth bedroom bell keeps ringing and she just can’t seem to find that peace she so deeply desires…

Yeah. I really shouldn’t have read this short story at dusk. While the wind was blowing through my house. And the wind chimes hanging in my window were going mad. Talk about mood-setting…

This was a really creepy story. There is something about bitterness that seems to be more terrifying than anger or sadness. It’s like a disease that eats someone from inside. The fact that Chloe’s bitterness leads to her sad ending was intense and really, really sad. It may not have quite ended the way that I anticipated… but it was still creepy and a reminder to let go of the past.

Finishing this short story left me feeling seriously disturbed. And uncomfortable. And just plain not ready to go to sleep. I may have poured myself a big glass of wine and taken a pretty big gulp after finishing this. It left me feeling that unsettled…

<- Sister, Shhh…

Scairt ->

Image source: Goodreads

Sister, Shhh… by Elizabeth Massie

December 5, 2020Book ReviewElizabeth Massie, Ghosts, Horror, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: Sister, Shhh…
Author: Elizabeth Massie
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 5th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Wait.

Charity and Fawn just wanted to escape The Prophet and his brother, their husband. But things don’t quite go as planned, and Charity wakes up in a cupboard.

There is something about cults that always pulls me in completely. And also leaves me feeling very freaked out and uncomfortable. After all, cults are all about brain washing and the sorts of horrible things that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy…

The ending of this story is beautifully open-ended and not conclusive at all. It gives me plenty of room to imagine a terrible, horrible and gruesome comeuppance for Rufus and The Prophet. And for all of the others in this story who have preyed upon the weak… a trio of ghosts can probably do a lot of damage if they’re focused on revenge enough.

Sister, Shhh… was all about victims and the vulnerable. It’s bad enough when people are preyed upon… but when those who are preyed upon are vulnerable and innocent? Yeah, it most definitely made me shudder to read this. And feel all sorts of sympathy throughout.

<- The Ninth Witch

The Fifth Bedroom ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Ninth Witch by Sarah Langan

December 4, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Horror, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women, Witchesskyebjenner

Title: The Ninth Witch
Author: Sarah Langan
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror, Witches
Dates read: 4th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Her feet were webbed; her hips wide.

She’s the ninth daughter of a horrifying man, and life has not been kind to her or her sisters. But, this ninth daughter is also a witch, and things may end up alright if she just trusts in her power…

The Ninth Witch is a gross, creepy, and seriously disturbing short story. It basically careens from one horrible moment to another as the story unfolds. And it’s just… not okay. Or comfortable. Or really anything that makes me have happy feelings when reading a story. But it is also a really good story, one which I would pick up again.

Although this story was seriously disturbed and filled with the horrors of being a woman, it did have a happily ever after. Which is probably why I would love to read this again. After all, I can put up with a lot of horrible nonsense in my stories, if there is going to be a happily ever after.

Ultimately, this story is one that is about the lengths that a mother will go to to protect her child. And the fact that you should really never get between a mother and child, regardless of what species / powers they have.

<- The Lost Ghost

Sister, Shhh… ->

Image source: Goodreads

Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.

Tag Archives: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women

Another One in from the Cold by Marion Arnott

Let Loose by Mary Cholmondeley

Return by Yvonne Navarro

Freeze Out by Nancy Holder

The Third Person by Lisa Tuttle

Seeing Nancy by Nina Allan

Scairt by Alison Littlewood

The Fifth Bedroom by Alex Bell

Sister, Shhh… by Elizabeth Massie

The Ninth Witch by Sarah Langan