Review: New Ghost Stories

New Ghost Stories
New Ghost Stories by Rob Redman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

New Ghost Stories, published by The Fiction Desk, features some strong, fresh stories that make this collection worth picking up. Julia Patt’s “At Glenn Dale”–based on a real location–preys on urban explorer fantasies and ratchets the tension beautifully, while Eloise Shepherd’s “Journeyman” has the rare distinction of something I’ve honestly never seen done: the ghost’s appearance is so seamlessly integrated, sharp, short and shocking it’s almost as though it’s a film image; it’s a jump-inducing moment that made me question whether or not I had really seen it. Matthew Licht’s “Washout” uses the sense of smell to flesh out its setting and help the reader relate to the circumstances of its sorry characters, and the entrance of the supernatural is so completely unexpected it would’ve made a surprising addition to a non-genre-specific collection. My personal favorite, though, is Jason Atkinson’s “Half Mom,” a palpable examination of loss and regret with a bit of black comedy. All in all, those four make New Ghost Stories a general recommend for ghost story junkies who are tired of the same old stuff.

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About kristipetersenschoonover

A ghost story writer who still sleeps with the lights on, Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s fiction has appeared in many magazines and anthologies; her traditionally published books include a short story collection, THE SHADOWS BEHIND. She was the recipient of three Norman Mailer Writers Colony Residencies and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. She serves as co-host of the DARK DISCUSSIONS podcast, as founding editor of the dark literary journal 34 ORCHARD, and is a member of both the New England Horror Writers and the Horror Writers Association. Follow her adventures at kristipetersenschoonover.com.

Posted on February 3, 2014, in News. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.

  1. Thank you for the kind words!

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